Driveshaft Issue (with photo) -- HELP

[jeffcrum]

@Ford Motor Company

Any help here?

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[TN Rotty]

Just have a third dealer inspect it and tell them that it must be bad again... If one of our members that got their heat exchanger replaced and case closed and it leaked again, they wouldn't get refused another replacement.

Or even 3 members getting their heat exchanger replaced again.

 

[Antimatter22]

I just can't comprehend why the dealership just wouldn't replace it to save the headache. How much would the repair cost? Replacing a driveshaft isn't difficult work. Not like it's an entire engine replacement or anything.

 

[RickBullotta]

Hi Everyone,

I picked-up my 2021 F150 (2.7L) in June of 2021. In August of 2021, I started having trouble with the driveshaft (shaking at highway speeds, rough idling, loud cracking noise whenever the truck turned into a raised driveway, etc.). Dealer #1 did the typical Ford dance (couldn't recreate the problem, etc.), but suddenly when the driveshaft recall was announced in early 2022 I was told that by Dealer #1 that my truck failed the driveshaft inspection, and shouldn't be driven. A 'unit down' was issued, and I was told to wait until a driveshaft arrived.

Once my driveshaft 'arrived', I dropped off the truck at Dealer #1 - but was then told that there was an error in their system and that the replacement driveshaft hadn't arrived (and it could be weeks before one was available). I was told that another nearby dealer (dealer #2) had a driveshaft on-hand.

I went to dealer #2, and they confirmed they had a driveshaft and held the truck for the day to complete the replacement. When I returned to the dealer at the end of the day, they indicated that they did not have time to replace the driveshaft that day and asked for me to come back. At this point, I was hugely disappointed.

Here is where the major problem starts... The tech was taking forever to give me my paperwork. Then he looked me square in the eye, and said that he couldn't claim for the 'time' they spent on the driveshaft that day, because Dealer #1 had already claimed the driveshaft diagnosis time with Ford. He said that the only way that Ford would reimburse Dealer #2 for their 'time' was if they closed the recall indicating the driveshaft was 'fine'. I was told not to worry, I could just apply for a new driveshaft under a separate 'warranty' claim! I disagreed, but they proceeded to CLOSE the recall file, and now I am stuck.

I am now driving a truck that I know has a bad driveshaft, and have been told that I have to bring it in to get it inspected for the SIXTH time, to start a warranty claim! I have no doubt I will go to the back of the line on the driveshaft backorder list, which means months more of waiting.

Please take a look at my driveshaft (below), and tell me if this is safe to be driving around (notice the 'pitting' of the aluminum on the right hand side of the groove). This truck is shaking when on the highway, and idles like a 1970s Mack truck... We are supposed to leave on a long-planned (and paid-for) cross country trip with our RV, and I honestly don't feel comfortable - but don't know if it's me overreacting to the driveshaft risk, or is the driveshaft is actually fine (please see the picture)...

BTW: I have called Ford Customer Relations and opened a file, but they have been useless so far. They have indicated that it's not possible that a dealer would indicate that a driveshaft is 'okay' after another dealer deemed it unsafe. I am being encouraged to go back to the dealers that got me into this mess, which I am not very eager to do...

This isn't your problem, it's theirs. Call Ford corporate. And by all means, give them a 1 star review when given the opportunity. That is complete b*llshit.

 

[SukotoYYZ]

UPDATE:

Following the advice from this thread, I escalated this back to Dealer #1's general manager (GM). He asked me to document everything in an email, attach the photos of the driveshaft, and attach the paperwork from Dealer #2 showing that the driveshaft had 'passed' inspection (immediately after it had failed at Dealer #1).

I received a call back later that same day, and they asked me to bring the truck in for yet another inspection. While I cannot understand the need for yet another inspection (did they think the driveshaft self-healed?), I agreed.

The GM of Dealer #1 had the service manager meet me, and conduct the inspection with a senior technician. They confirmed that the driveshaft did *not* pass, and have now (as of this morning) involved the regional Ford rep to assist with the search for a replacement driveshaft (which is now ongoing).

Sadly, because we knew the truck was unsafe to tow our RV across the country we had to cancel four (4) weeks of ocean-side camping (we booked an amazing site for all of August).

This driveshaft issue has been ongoing for 12mo now, and has been a nightmare. While I am happy Ford is now (after about a hundred hours of my personal time) trying to do the right thing, I am thoroughly disgusted. Once the F150 lease is over, I won't be getting another Ford. I am actually pissed-off enough to put my Mustang GT Convertible up for sale - a beautiful car, but after Ford put my family at risk (and ruined our holiday), I'm done.

I have been a Ford guy my whole life, and while I know that my future purchases going elsewhere won't even be noticed by Ford, I can't knowingly support a brand that truly abandoned a customer (when all I wanted was a safe truck).

I will provide a final update (when/if) the driveshaft is replaced. Thanks everyone for your help -

 

[UGADawg96]

UPDATE:

Following the advice from this thread, I escalated this back to Dealer #1's general manager (GM). He asked me to document everything in an email, attach the photos of the driveshaft, and attach the paperwork from Dealer #2 showing that the driveshaft had 'passed' inspection (immediately after it had failed at Dealer #1).

I received a call back later that same day, and they asked me to bring the truck in for yet another inspection. While I cannot understand the need for yet another inspection (did they think the driveshaft self-healed?), I agreed.

The GM of Dealer #1 had the service manager meet me, and conduct the inspection with a senior technician. They confirmed that the driveshaft did *not* pass, and have now (as of this morning) involved the regional Ford rep to assist with the search for a replacement driveshaft (which is now ongoing).

Sadly, because we knew the truck was unsafe to tow our RV across the country we had to cancel four (4) weeks of ocean-side camping (we booked an amazing site for all of August).

This driveshaft issue has been ongoing for 12mo now, and has been a nightmare. While I am happy Ford is now (after about a hundred hours of my personal time) trying to do the right thing, I am thoroughly disgusted. Once the F150 lease is over, I won't be getting another Ford. I am actually pissed-off enough to put my Mustang GT Convertible up for sale - a beautiful car, but after Ford put my family at risk (and ruined our holiday), I'm done.

I have been a Ford guy my whole life, and while I know that my future purchases going elsewhere won't even be noticed by Ford, I can't knowingly support a brand that truly abandoned a customer (when all I wanted was a safe truck).

I will provide a final update (when/if) the driveshaft is replaced. Thanks everyone for your help -

I have had both incredibly frustrating and amazing experiences with multiple vehicle brand service departments over the years. I have also had the same from phone jockeys in numerous businesses. In the end, it comes down to people. You are at the mercy of the luck of the draw on who you get. The same thing going through a drive through window getting food. You'll have both good and bad experiences. I would just caution you on giving up on a product just based on that alone. If not, you'll run out of food to eat and vehicles to drive as the amount of humans disappoint you. I say this as a first time Ford owner and I've been driving for over 30 years. ymmv.

 

[Snakebitten]

I look at it a little differently.
My personal challenge is to NOT let the failures or shortcomings of others steal my joy.

At times that's a tall task. Your experience would be a good example.

But if my next truck purchase was a truck of my 2nd or 3rd preference, then those people even stold my choice to purchase what I truly would enjoy most.

They ain't getting that from me. Neither is principal if principal is only going to cut my nose off.

 

[Buyer2021]

I look at it a little differently.
My personal challenge is to NOT let the failures or shortcomings of others steel steal my joy.

At times that's a tall task. Your experience would be a good example.

But if my next truck purchase was a truck of my 2nd or 3rd preference, then those people even stold stole my choice to purchase what I truly would enjoy most.

They ain't getting that from me. Neither is principle if principle is only going to cut my nose off.

Even with the typos I'm all-in with this approach to life's challenges.

I finally outgrew 'cutting off my nose to spite my face' and got tired of 'eating crow' when, for good sensible reasons, backtracking on things that I 'would never do again'.

 

[SCTYDOG]

I've been through the same thing with GM and the issue eventually escalated to a lemon law case which i won. That was an incredibly stressful experience. So I understand your frustrations and you are entitled to feel how you do. I offer no sage advice because it is unnecessary to tell you how you should or should not feel. Glad you are finally approaching the finish line.

 

[Snakebitten]

Even with the typos I'm all-in with this approach to life's challenges.

I finally outgrew 'cutting off my nose to spite my face' and got tired of 'eating crow' when, for good sensible reasons, backtracking on things that I 'would never do again'.

Steal & principal? ??

I fixed. Thanks for the heads up

 

[Deepsky]

Your situation is, unfortunately, not unique. I've been waiting 3.75 months with no driveshaft in sight. Here's a link to a topic I started: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/driveshaft-damage-due-to-recall.11886/; and another link to another topic covering this issue: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...y-insulators-driveshaft-fracture-hazard.7616/

As with you, customer service has been of absolutely no help at all. In fact, I don't think the information from corporate is getting down to their level, much less the dealerships. We're starting to give up and just wait it out, or possibly, if this goes too much longer, to purchase and have installed a driveshaft from a custom shop. This would probably invalidate our 60K powertrain warranty, and Ford may never remove the recall if we do this, but we can't stay at the campground at which we're stranded much longer due to expense and campground rules.

 

[SukotoYYZ]

UPDATE:

Following the advice from this thread, I escalated this back to Dealer #1's general manager (GM). He asked me to document everything in an email, attach the photos of the driveshaft, and attach the paperwork from Dealer #2 showing that the driveshaft had 'passed' inspection (immediately after it had failed at Dealer #1).

I received a call back later that same day, and they asked me to bring the truck in for yet another inspection. While I cannot understand the need for yet another inspection (did they think the driveshaft self-healed?), I agreed.

The GM of Dealer #1 had the service manager meet me, and conduct the inspection with a senior technician. They confirmed that the driveshaft did *not* pass, and have now (as of this morning) involved the regional Ford rep to assist with the search for a replacement driveshaft (which is now ongoing).

Sadly, because we knew the truck was unsafe to tow our RV across the country we had to cancel four (4) weeks of ocean-side camping (we booked an amazing site for all of August).

This driveshaft issue has been ongoing for 12mo now, and has been a nightmare. While I am happy Ford is now (after about a hundred hours of my personal time) trying to do the right thing, I am thoroughly disgusted. Once the F150 lease is over, I won't be getting another Ford. I am actually pissed-off enough to put my Mustang GT Convertible up for sale - a beautiful car, but after Ford put my family at risk (and ruined our holiday), I'm done.

I have been a Ford guy my whole life, and while I know that my future purchases going elsewhere won't even be noticed by Ford, I can't knowingly support a brand that truly abandoned a customer (when all I wanted was a safe truck).

I will provide a final update (when/if) the driveshaft is replaced. Thanks everyone for your help -

Finally an update! It's been a very long haul, but...

- Dealer #1 (where I purchased the truck) brought in the local Ford rep to inspect my truck. He indicated that the driveshaft did *not* need to be replaced, despite the rather deep scoring, because the tolerance level of the recall had been updated. Apparently, the driveshaft has to be 'really' damaged now, to qualify for replacement.
- During the inspection, the Ford rep indicated that Dealer #2 had cut-off my insulator shield (aka heat shield) that runs between the driveshaft and the floor. He indicated that he would order that and have it replaced.
- They also noted the the rear shocks, bushings and leaf springs were defective and ordered all to be replaced.
- It took multiple weeks, but eventually all of the parts arrived.
- It was in the shop for an entire day (7am-7pm), but it was all replaced.
- Interesting note: when I picked-up the truck that night, the service manager indicated that they had replaced the driveshaft as well. Don't get me wrong - I am happy - however, I sort of feel as though I had been told that the driveshaft was okay, to 'cover' for Dealer #2 (i.e. they had always known the driveshaft was bad, and changed the narrative so that they replaced it as a courtesy, rather than throw Dealer #2 under-the-bus). Who knows...
- Now the truck drives much better, and has a much smoother ride. However, I am having pesky computer failures now (blue screens, loss of connection issues, etc.) and there appears to be a slow-drain on the battery when the truck is turned-off. More fun!

Thanks everyone for your help -

 

[Gros Ventre]

Hi Everyone,

I picked-up my 2021 F150 (2.7L) in June of 2021. In August of 2021, I started having trouble with the driveshaft (shaking at highway speeds, rough idling, loud cracking noise whenever the truck turned into a raised driveway, etc.). Dealer #1 did the typical Ford dance (couldn't recreate the problem, etc.), but suddenly when the driveshaft recall was announced in early 2022 I was told that by Dealer #1 that my truck failed the driveshaft inspection, and shouldn't be driven. A 'unit down' was issued, and I was told to wait until a driveshaft arrived.

Once my driveshaft 'arrived', I dropped off the truck at Dealer #1 - but was then told that there was an error in their system and that the replacement driveshaft hadn't arrived (and it could be weeks before one was available). I was told that another nearby dealer (dealer #2) had a driveshaft on-hand.

I went to dealer #2, and they confirmed they had a driveshaft and held the truck for the day to complete the replacement. When I returned to the dealer at the end of the day, they indicated that they did not have time to replace the driveshaft that day and asked for me to come back. At this point, I was hugely disappointed.

Here is where the major problem starts... The tech was taking forever to give me my paperwork. Then he looked me square in the eye, and said that he couldn't claim for the 'time' they spent on the driveshaft that day, because Dealer #1 had already claimed the driveshaft diagnosis time with Ford. He said that the only way that Ford would reimburse Dealer #2 for their 'time' was if they closed the recall indicating the driveshaft was 'fine'. I was told not to worry, I could just apply for a new driveshaft under a separate 'warranty' claim! I disagreed, but they proceeded to CLOSE the recall file, and now I am stuck.

I am now driving a truck that I know has a bad driveshaft, and have been told that I have to bring it in to get it inspected for the SIXTH time, to start a warranty claim! I have no doubt I will go to the back of the line on the driveshaft backorder list, which means months more of waiting.

Please take a look at my driveshaft (below), and tell me if this is safe to be driving around (notice the 'pitting' of the aluminum on the right hand side of the groove). This truck is shaking when on the highway, and idles like a 1970s Mack truck... We are supposed to leave on a long-planned (and paid-for) cross country trip with our RV, and I honestly don't feel comfortable - but don't know if it's me overreacting to the driveshaft risk, or is the driveshaft is actually fine (please see the picture)...

BTW: I have called Ford Customer Relations and opened a file, but they have been useless so far. They have indicated that it's not possible that a dealer would indicate that a driveshaft is 'okay' after another dealer deemed it unsafe. I am being encouraged to go back to the dealers that got me into this mess, which I am not very eager to do...

Is your truck a 4WD/AWD?

 

[SukotoYYZ]

Is your truck a 4WD/AWD?

Yes - 4WD.

 

[HammaMan]

However, I am having pesky computer failures now (blue screens, loss of connection issues, etc.) and there appears to be a slow-drain on the battery when the truck is turned-off. More fun!

Blue screens or hard resets? Do you wake your truck up a lot? (aka, walk within ~5 meters of it when parked w/ keys in pocket). Consider upping your SOC for your battery via forscan.

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