mikejapp

Well, it took them longer because they have so many to repair on this recall. So I called them Friday at noon and it was not ready. But by 5pm they called me and said come get it. So I returned my rental car just two hours ago and got my Ford. Happy to finally have this taken care of!

Yes, dogo88! Good News! Local Ford dealer called yesterday and left a message that the parts are in and for me to bring the car. I drove it over to the dealer today in the pouring rain. Because I took the rental car offer, I haven't driven my Fusion Hybrid in 4 months. It was nice to drive it again after all that time but in the heavy rain was certainly difficult. I'm glad that I tried cleaning it up a bit a month ago. I also had to charge the front battery and jump start it to get it running. So by doing that, I had the car ready to drive over to the dealer right when they called. Hopefully early part of next week, I'll turn in the rental and get my Fusion Hybrid back.

Ok, that would explain why they sent me email and text messages after I received a fourth letter saying that the parts are available. But the wording of the email and text sounded after-the-fact, like "Thank you for having your Ford serviced by our team." and asking for feedback on the service. Since my Ford has not been at the dealer yet, I thought that was strange. Back in July I received my third letter from Ford Motor Company with an offer for a rental car. So I debated this and finally decided to take their offer and put miles on their car instead of miles on my Ford taking a risk of airbag explosion. August 1st I went to the Ford dealer and got their paperwork to for the rental car, brought it to Enterprise and they put me in a Toyota Camary with out-of-state plates. I drove it for over 3 months until the car's system said "maintenance required" and called Enterprise who told me to bring it in and they swap it out. Now I'm driving a Chevy Impala with push-button start (neat feature, first time for me). But it's transmission does not shift as smoothly as the Toyota. Still waiting on Ford....

I received a letter today from Ford that says that they can provide a rental car until the parts become available. The previous letters said it was the passenger side airbag only. I still have the previous letter right here. This new letter does NOT actually say "don't drive the car". But if they are offering a rental car, then either they think the Fusion should not be driven OR they realize that this has gone on far too long and people are VERY frustrated on this issue. I know I am. I realize that it was Takata that made the airbags, but this has been 3 years. This new letter says, "Ford continues to work closely with our suppliers to produce the needed parts for this repair." Really? Closely? For three years with no resolution? Really too bad because this Ford Fusion Hybrid had been the best modern car, daily driver, that I have ever owned... until this dangerous issue. So I curious how many of you are going to take the rental car offer?

I have received two letters, the 2nd said they are still working on the issue. I have a coworker with two Hondas affected by the airbag recall, a Civic and an Odyssey. Both had the airbags replaced already. Why are Honda airbags and other manufacturers getting replaced but Fords are not? Fortunately I have other cars for the family and mainly use my Fusion driving to work, but I see plenty of other Fusions in my area driving with passengers. I told one young woman at a car wash about the recall on her Fusion and she didn't even know about it. When I drive with only my wife and I, she rides in the backseat so as to be away from the passenger's airbag. Can the airbag or seat sensor be disabled until this repair is done? Even if I got the interim replacement before the permanent replacement, at least that makes the situation safer. Frustrated by Ford in Florida!

Interesting idea. I'll make a conscious effort to be aware that my feet are not bumping the hood release lever and see if it happens again. Although I would think the lever has to be pulled fairly hard to release the hood. I'm the primary driver, so it has not happened to my wife. As for my height, I'm only 5'10". Thanks, Mike

http://www.northescambia.com/2013/12/witness-driver-pulls-into-path-of-18-wheeler

Several times over the past few months I've noticed the hood is popped up when I get back to the car after work or in the morning on the way to work. I'm not sure if it pops up while driving and I don't notice OR if it pops up after sitting a while. I've tried to watch for this but haven't remembered to look at the hood every time I exit the car. When I've seen it popped up, I push it back down and then try to pull on it but it doesn't move (as it should not). But so far I can't explain how the hood is getting popped up. Does anybody else have this problem? I have not taken it to the local Ford dealer yet. Thanks, Mike

My 2010 Fusion's low tire warning came on so I checked all tires w/ my stick gauge and all were above 30. Then got my dial gauge and checked again, same result. On a whim I even checked the spare tire in case it has a sensor too. I added air to the tire that had 30 and the warning still comes on. The door sticker says 33. Bad sensor? Has anybody else had this before? Thanks!

Wow, those European hatchback and wagon models look nice! I could go for one of those. My 2nd car was a used '81 Toyota Corolla SR5 Sport Coupe that was hatchback and it liked it. I really like my 2010 FFH. I've adjusted to not having the headlights/tail lights automatically turn on/off like in my Envoy. But the one nit-picky thing I don't like is the A/C vent recirculate button doesn't stay closed when I get back in the car. I like having it closed and have to remember to hit the button every time otherwise I'll realize it when I smell exhaust from old cars and big trucks ahead of me. Can I get the vent to default to a closed position? I wish it would. As far as FFH fuel mileage, you have to work it. Know when to ease up on the pedal to get the ICE to shut off and know how far to press it back to control the electric motor for a bit when level or downhill. It requires some fine control over the pedal with small movements of your foot. Also don't expect mileage as good as Prius because Fusion is a larger and heaver car.

Well, last week a lady at work had battery trouble in her Volvo wagon and as I was leaving for the day she was in the parking lot with the hood open and on the phone with her husband. The battery is in the back under the cargo floor! I had jumper cables so her husband said to connect to the big cable in the engine that goes back to the battery. I connected it there and ground on her car, then to my FFH 12v battery, turned my car on, and her car started up. So since you guys have done it, I helped someone else too.

I have two kids ages 5 and 9, so the DVD headrests look neat. Did you get them from the dealer or aftermarket somewhere? Probably expensive. I'll have to find out if they can be fitted to my 2010 Fusion.

Thanks guys, I appreciate your time and knowledge. My FFH now has 25,500 miles. I'll check with the dealer on the battery although I wonder why he didn't say it at the time since he knew the cars mileage and age.

The warning on the left side of the display saying "change engine oil soon" came on last week sometime. I have usually taken my modern cars to a oil change place near my work, but I thought this Ford hybrid is different with the Atkinson engine so I wondered of the guys at the little oil change place have the training. I've also read here about the engine shields sometimes don't get replaced correctly. So Wednesday I drove further to the local Ford dealer. Well, they did good on the job but I was there for over 2 hours! They do a vehicle inspection too. The rep who checked me in said about 1 hour, to which I thought geez that's a lot. But the waiting room got more boring and boring and when 1 hour went to two hours I'm second guessing my decision to go do the dealer. I had to call my work since I was there on lunch break and explain to my supervisor AND use some of my vacation hours to compensate for the "long lunch". So where do you get your FFH oil changed? Is the hybrid engine really that different since every type engine still has a oil pan and a plug? Do you go to the "speedy oil" place, the Ford dealer (with appointment, drop off, or loan car?), or do you do it yourself? I do it myself on my older cars but have not wanted to on my modern cars. Their inspection also said the 12v battery was low and near needing replacement. I did buy this FFH used so I'm looking aroud for that too. BTW, the dealer here had 10 of the 2012 Fusions on the lot and of those 10 only 2 were hybrids, one white and one gray.

This is a 12 minute video of the new Ford Police vehicles based on the sedan and utility. The Ford man explaining it is very good and tells how they developed the cars with the help of LEO's. We will be seeing them soon.