Throttle Body Extended Warranty - Program 13N03

[John Pinkerton]

Looks like there may be a class action for those not covered and/or reimbursed for parts and labor.

 

http://www.consumerclassactionlawyers.com/ford-throttle-body-problems.html

[akirby]

The only ones that benefit from a class action suit are the attorneys.

[mjghi]

First time poster - and I thank this forum for helping me understand this crazy problem...

Question - Has anyone received any info on the software update promised "in the spring"?

It is getting pretty close to summer in my neck of the woods...so, I am just asking.

[TheHYPO]

I'm disappointed to see that this doesn't apply to older Fusions. My 2007 just threw me this issue (forced idle while rolling down the highway) this morning on a relatively low-milage fusion with P2014 and P2112 fault codes. Seperate issue may be that I'm in Canada. I'm waiting to see if the fault recurs and then I'm going to have to figure out exactly what to do about it (be it cleaning the throttle assembly, changing it myself, or letting the dealer run its tests)...

[AndyT]

I got the notice of the PCM update today. This was another customer satisfaction letter, much like the first one we all received about the throttle body. I don't have it next to me, so I don't remember the program number. Called my service department and made an appointment.

 

IIRC, it said something about a revised strategy for the PCM if it lost communication with the throttle body.

[jreilly37]

I was notified of the PCM update today but never notified of 13N03. I had to replace the throttle body on my wife's 2010 Fusion Last year. Am I still eligible for a refund?

[hermans]

See post 21.

[jreilly37]

I was notified of the PCM update today but never notified of 13N03. I had to replace the throttle body on my wife's 2010 Fusion Last year. Am I still eligible for a refund?

 

I saw that but was wondering if I'm eligible for a refund seeing as I didn't get the 13n03 Notice earlier this year. I'm assuming I should be eligible just based on the fact that the warranty on the throttle body was extended to 10 years or 150K. The car falls well within those parameters at 4 years old and currently 83K.

Edited June 20, 2014 by jreilly37

[inFuzed11]

It can't hurt going in to find out, but it would not surprise me if they said you are not covered until your vehicle (build lot) was identified to need this program. It is possible you just had bad luck but your batch vehicles did not have enough failures for them to cause the warranty.

[AKSportDriver]

Just wondering why all fusions that have the same problem and produced during the same time frame as 13N03 states are not covered. I have taken my 2010 Fusion Sport in 3 times for this issue and am getting tired of having to pay for this. When my dealership states to me that there is a "updated part that replaces the throttle body you have now that fixes the issue" is clear that Ford know this is an issue in multiple cars. It doesn't make any sense to me. This issue is larger than what the Customer Satisfaction Program 13N03 lists.

[indifferent]

^^ welcome to the party. I Replaced the throttle body in my spory with a new one off amazon. No problems since. No computer reprogram just a new tb. Took all of 7 minutes.

[FuzzyOne]

Got one ages ago, and just filed it in my Ford "watch" list folder.. hopefully nothing ever comes of it, but it's there .

Deejay,

My letter states, "This program will be in effect until July 31, 2015."

 

So does that mean that on August 1, 2015 this offer for a free "upgrade" is no longer any good? Will it expire then?

 

FuzzyOne

[jreilly37]

I got the reprogram of the ECM done on Saturday and the Check Engine Light came on today!!! Called the dealership and they said that the reprogramming can cause carbon to get into the throttle body and trip the light...Seriously???

[Noahfreak]

I found an actual copy of the 13N03 Customer Satisfaction letter online. It said all Fusions and Milans from 10-13 Model Year built at the Hermosillo plant are covered on this program, as well as 09-12 Escape and Mariner from the Kansas City plant and the 2013 Escape from the Lousville plant. If your throttle body fails, they'll replace it on Ford's dime up to 150,000 miles or 10 years. Any vehicle that has exceeded the mileage limits (or time limits, which is impossible) is still covered until the January 31, 2015 date anyway. After that, 150,000+ mileage vehicle owners are on their own with it, which is more than reasonable in my opinion.

 

Update: Just got back from dealer service for the transmission flare issue (TSB 12-6-12, TCM recalibration) and they redid the throttle body recall under 13B17 while I was in there. They didn't replace it, they just reprogrammed the PCM so it doesn't freak out if it loses throttle body signal. I'm satisfied with that, because even if it does eventually need to be replaced, it won't endanger my family when it fails.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Noahfreak

[Fusion11]

Yesterday I went into the Ford dealership and had both the 13N03 and 13B17 repairs done on my 2011 Fusion SE V6, after the throttle body cut out on my three times going down the freeway to and from work. The first two times only the wrench light came on, but on the third time, the check engine light also came on and stayed on until I got to the dealership. Not fun! I wish they'd have just issued a recall so other people don't have to deal with that happening.

 

But the reason I'm posing here is to give a quick review of the two big difference I've noticed, and then I have question about the ACTUAL throttle body PART they installed. First, like I've seen a couple other people mention, the acceleration is smoother and improved. I'm not sure if this is due to the new throttle body or the reprogramming of the PCM, but it is noticeably better to me. Before it seemed like the transmission would get ahead of itself a lot of the time, and wind the lower gears way too high before shifting into the higher gears. The second thing I've noticed, although it's only been one day, is improved gas mileage. Normally I would sit around 26.5-27 MPG on the on-screen meter display, but today back and forth to work it stayed slightly over 30 MPG. Hopefully that wasn't just a fluke and stays up there.

 

Now onto a very important question. I've attached a picture of the new throttle body they put in, and it is not the same model number that's listed as the appropriate replacement part. The replacement part is supposed to be DS7Z-9E926-D. To me, it looks like they stuck an old A series in there, and I'm worried if I don't go back and demand the proper replacement part, it will just fail again at some point. I've googled the part number of the one they put in, DS7E-9F991-AF, and it hardly brings up any results at all. I found a USED one for sale on ebay and it says it's for 2010-2012 fusions, so my that really increases my suspicions that it's the old model.

 

What would you do, keep the one they put in, or go back and tell them to get you the part specified in the customer satisfaction bulletin? And why would a Ford dealership not use the proper part that's specified? Sure, most people probably wouldn't notice, but that is really opening up a liability for themselves. Better to just say, "we don't have it in stock but we'll put this one in until we can get it ordered for you."

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

[Michael Mitchell]

Fusion11

Your experience and mine sounds similar.

 

I have a 2010 Ford Fusion right before 37k miles and prior to receiving the letter when sitting at traffic lights sometimes the idle would drop run rough for a less than a second then come back up to normal but the light didnt come on thinking maybe some bad gas I changed stations and put in super same problems were experienced. Just as I got concerned the letter showed up and I took it to the dealership and they did the code update and I got an oil change while there.

 

Not even a week later I backed out of the driveway and the car started to slow studder with power like going from half power to 50hp but a smooth drop and increase it lasted about 10 seconds then was gone but then shortly after I made a right on red and it dropped luckily i had lots of room to get into the lane but if I were crossing in front of oncomming traffic I would have caused some brake lights or worse. Prior to this the shift points on the transmission had been unusual again. Not like it was missing shifts but just not shifting at the right points for a smooth ride for the way I was applying gas. Never did the check engine light come on or the car go into limp mode but really surprised the check engine light didnt come on. These were really noticable performance drops. I didnt have the power on tap like it should have and took it immediatly to the dealership when this time they replaced the throttle body and said they reprogrammed the transmission which it has been in for before.

 

Since then Im going to say its much more robust, idles better, shifts smooth, and feels like a new car. I too suspect gas mileage may be up but traffic is hit or miss to tell for sure but I will say Ive hit a lot more traffic recently and gas milage didnt go down. The change is significant making me think the performance was slowly degrading where I didnt notice because of the gradual decline. I didnt check to see if I have the new or old part now all this just recently happened but I am concerned that the performance drops I had didnt cause the check engine light to come on. Whatever the programming is behind that seems a lot looser than it should be I certainly believe all my past cars would have thrown a check engine light. Like I said had I been turning across traffic and suffered the same performance drop I experience this could have been worse.

 

This is my first Ford so far Im on the fence as far as Ford reliability and Service over other american car makes.

[Rok]

Thanks, indifferent.

I tried the link but it applied to the 3.5L and up.

This one should work for the 3.0, plus it's about $65 less coin:

[jreilly37]

Got my refund check today.

[cecasejr]

Yesterday I went into the Ford dealership and had both the 13N03 and 13B17 repairs done on my 2011 Fusion SE V6, after the throttle body cut out on my three times going down the freeway to and from work. The first two times only the wrench light came on, but on the third time, the check engine light also came on and stayed on until I got to the dealership. Not fun! I wish they'd have just issued a recall so other people don't have to deal with that happening.

 

But the reason I'm posing here is to give a quick review of the two big difference I've noticed, and then I have question about the ACTUAL throttle body PART they installed. First, like I've seen a couple other people mention, the acceleration is smoother and improved. I'm not sure if this is due to the new throttle body or the reprogramming of the PCM, but it is noticeably better to me. Before it seemed like the transmission would get ahead of itself a lot of the time, and wind the lower gears way too high before shifting into the higher gears. The second thing I've noticed, although it's only been one day, is improved gas mileage. Normally I would sit around 26.5-27 MPG on the on-screen meter display, but today back and forth to work it stayed slightly over 30 MPG. Hopefully that wasn't just a fluke and stays up there.

 

Now onto a very important question. I've attached a picture of the new throttle body they put in, and it is not the same model number that's listed as the appropriate replacement part. The replacement part is supposed to be DS7Z-9E926-D. To me, it looks like they stuck an old A series in there, and I'm worried if I don't go back and demand the proper replacement part, it will just fail again at some point. I've googled the part number of the one they put in, DS7E-9F991-AF, and it hardly brings up any results at all. I found a USED one for sale on ebay and it says it's for 2010-2012 fusions, so my that really increases my suspicions that it's the old model.

 

What would you do, keep the one they put in, or go back and tell them to get you the part specified in the customer satisfaction bulletin? And why would a Ford dealership not use the proper part that's specified? Sure, most people probably wouldn't notice, but that is really opening up a liability for themselves. Better to just say, "we don't have it in stock but we'll put this one in until we can get it ordered for you."

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

I am in the same boat. I got my throttle body replaced two days ago and they put this in: DS7E-9F991-AF

 

I asked the dealership if they installed the corrected version and they verbally said yes but after I confronted them with the part number on the sticker, they stuttered and said they would double check. I never heard a word back from them. Does anyone know if this is a good part or the old part? Thank you.

[AndyT]

I just had mine replaced under the extended warranty. I'll go out and look at the sticker in a few and let you know what part number is on my car.

[huskerhoya]

I found an actual copy of the 13N03 Customer Satisfaction letter online.

 

My 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid just started showing the exact same symptoms that other people describe with Throttle Body failures, and a free diagnostic check at Autozone revealed the code p2112 (also consistent with throttle body error). I was looking for a copy of this letter online but couldn't find one. Any chance you could link where you found it? Or, if you still have a copy, scan and post it?

[Noahfreak]

 

My 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid just started showing the exact same symptoms that other people describe with Throttle Body failures, and a free diagnostic check at Autozone revealed the code p2112 (also consistent with throttle body error). I was looking for a copy of this letter online but couldn't find one. Any chance you could link where you found it? Or, if you still have a copy, scan and post it?

Sorry, couldn't find the one I had, but there are places to find them if you look for a while. There's a guy on another Ford forum saying that he will send you any TSB via private message because he couldn't find them reliably hosted anywhere. I'm assuming there's a reason you don't see them up on the internet for very long, so give that guy a PM. I'd get more specific, but it would probably violate a forum rule or two.

 

Edit: Found it -

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM451434/CSC-10054926-3569.pdf

You can get pretty much any TSB or recall you want there it looks like. One of the few times the government actually came through for me, lol.

Edited September 9, 2014 by Noahfreak

[Risa]

Hi, I just got a 2010 Fusion a month ago, found your forum info on this Wrench indicator. I took it in to a Canadian/BC Ford dealership today Oct 9 and they said yes for the 13N03 but are refusing to do the 13B17. From the link Noahfreak posted of the Customer Program letter, the 13B17 is to be done WITH the 13NO3 correct? ?

 

Also, I took it in this morning and they ended up keeping it from 9am to 2 for diagnostics. the actual repair is tomorrow but I have to bring it first thing at 7:30 with no set time on WHEN they will get to it, so possibly all day again. Can I ask them to stick to the Half Day guide or provide Courtesy Car? Its our cdn thanksgiving long weekend, I already pushed my travel plans down for this, now I have to stand by the phone for another day to wait for it. I see the letter says 'no rental vehicles authorized' but does that apply only to their HALF day guideline, not a TWO day issue?

I thought I read on another forum somewhere that they don't do Rentals, but do have an In-House program for this specific recall.

 

I took mine in today and they said they had to order the part it'll take a few days, with long weekend bring my car back in next week. I asked if that is safe because this is a recall issue, they said That Is Up To You (on you, they meant). I said ok, I just want you to document on my file there that I brought it in, but you are returning it to me before the issue is attended to. He said 'oh, well let me see' came back and said we can do you the favor of fitting you in tomorrow. um hmm.

[Waldo]

Let's be clear, neither the 13N03 nor the 13B17 are recalls. 13B17 is a customer service action, meaning that anyone can have it done regardless of whether or not you actually have a problem and regardless if you are out of warranty. 13N03 is an extension of warranty on a part, meaning if you have a problem and the diagnosis is that the throttle body is the cause of the problem, then the part is covered under the extended warranty. It does not mean that everyone who asks can get a new throttle body.

 

Risa, have you actually had a problem / wrench light? If not, there is no reason to panic, no reason to hurry up and get any of this done. If you have, then it's really up to you if you think the inconvenience of getting the work done before your traveling is better than the inconvenience that the problem might causing during your trip. But to be clear, Ford has not determined this to be a safety issue, that's why it's not a recall, just a voluntary "bring it in whenever you want" program.

[Alan in little Washington]

There sure has been a lot of misinformation and almost total lack of information and transparency from Ford, especially Ford dearlers on this problem. It took a lot of searching the web, but that and my experience have provided a better picture.

 

I had the throttle body problems over a year ago. The car would die or nearly die and felt like it was running on 1 - 2 cylinders. I could turn it off, restart it and sometimes it would be fine and others not. Sometimes it would run fine for a week or two- There was no pattern. (I had Autozone reset the OBDC).

 

Despite the dealer's initial claim that it was carbon in the throttle body making it stick, the truth, as I eventually discovered, was that Ford got a bunch of improperly manufactured throttle body circuit boards with bad solder joints from one of their suppliers.

 

Initially, the service dept. told me cleaning the throttle body should take care of the problem. After they did this, I got less than 1/2 block from the dealer before the car died again. I got it restarted, wheeled around and with wild eyes and steam coming out my ears, went flying back to the dealer where luckily, upon arrival, was able to confront the owner (multi-dealership) face-to-face as he was headed home. They (the serivice writer, tech, and service manager had all looked me in the face and ALL lied about the problem and the extent of the problem, as my subsequent research revealed. They finally agreed to order a new throttle body which coincidentally was back-ordered due to high demand. I said sounds like a fleet-wide problem- "not so" they said- lying to me again. I discovered, not only had Ford been aware of the problem for over a year. They knew the exact cause, manufacturer of the part, and the exact batch numbers, AND were also aware a formal investigation had already been initiated by the NHTSA! I made enough stink at the time and didn't have to pay. I felt rightfully vindicated six months later when Ford admitted the problem and offered to reimburse those who had already paid! If I remember, it was still not a recall- I believe though it affected a large number of vehicles, it evidently didn't exactly meet the narrow criteria for a recall- actual death count or potential! Nit picking in my opinion!

 

13B17

 

As to "Customer Satisfaction Program" (euphemism for recall?*) 13B17, as I understand, it was issued in case a throttle body starts acting up in the future, whether it is an original one from the faulty batch, replacement, or new one. The "Why" makes it sound like the recall will result in changing out the throttle body. IT DOES NOT! It is a software change (takes the dealer 15 min. to do) that just recalibrates the speed of the "limp-home" mode. Who knew the Fusion had a "limp-home" mode? If you have experienced the throttle body issue you know what the "limp-home" mode is and know it was too slow to make it home safely.

 

13N03

 

This "Program" extends the warranty on the Throttle Body to a "total of 10 years or 150,00" (from date of original warranty, it doesn't add that amount of time or distance)

 

* My letter from Ford doesn't refer to it as a recall (they probably hate that term), but the follow-up reminder post card from my dealer was titled in large print, "URGENT RECALL NOTICE." Go figure

---------------------------------------

 

Fuel Filler Light Issue? If anyone has had the fuel filler seal issue- another Ford/Dealer obfuscation! Contrary to what my dealer's service department said (another lie) and wanted to charge me over $300 to have replaced, chances are high that unless the vehicle has been damaged in that area, it is NOT not the filler cap or the filler neck assemblies. It is a problem with a solenoid in the system. It is easily accessible near the top at the front of the engine, can be purchased at the dealer (some autoparts stores?) for around $50 and easily installed with basic tools in under 5 min.!

Edited October 22, 2014 by Alan in little Washington