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18” Premium Painted Luxury Wheels Clear Coat Peeling


Ductking1
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WOW! This is amazing. We are all being lied to buy a company that I have favored my entire life. I got it from my father which he got from his father and I am trying to pass to my daughter. I have THE Mustang logo tattooed on my chest and really having a problem with this. 6 months after we bought a 13 fusion I noticed the clear coat was peeling off, could have been sooner cause I had to get through the winter months and did not notice until we washed car in spring. Took back to dealer and they said it was an uncommon problem that all 4 wheels had peeled like that. They tried to look at me as if I had used something to clean wheels that caused it, but I don't wash my car in the winter. They got with Ford and they replaced the wheels. My comment was, "what if it happens again"? They said it was just a bad batch and the chances are slim, yeah right. I was worried if we go over millage would they still replace, even offered to down grade with different wheel but ford said no. Car is not even 2 years old and the second set (all 4) are peeling and we are out of warranty. So if your wondering what your future may be, right now we have gone to dealership and they contacted ford and they are willing to work out a percent of the cost. Now I was told these wheels are $900 a piece so I'm thinking any percent coming out of my pocket will be high. So I called ford myself to see if my dealership (RICART ford in Columbus, Ohio) just kind of rolled over to what ever ford said. They did not argue with me and was very pleasant but did not admit there is a problem with these wheels which I find a little insulting. Who are they trying to protect? If they had another manufacturer make these wheel you would think ford would be on them fast and fixing the problem instead of people bad mouthing ford unless ford made them. Well right now I have a new case number and ford will let me know what they intent to do. I really believe if they put the same wheel back on the car it will happen again, I guess I'm just screwed. *funny thing though, according to the factory there should be a 18" alloy wheel on the car, not the 17" black chrome wheel. No one knows why the paper work doesn't match the car.

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I'm having the same problem, in fact it's even worse than just my Fusion!

 

I had a 2012 Ford Mustang and the clear coat peeled within 6 months on those rims, The Ford dealership replaced them, then due to having a kid I traded in my Mustang for a Fusion last July with the "luxury package" which includes black wheels. So now Ford dealerships are saying they won't do anything. We spoke to a Ford Customer Service Regional Manager and here's what he said, "It's a known issue with the supplier of the wheels and has been known since 2011. They are working on a fix, and were supposed to have one 1st Quarter of 2015, but it has been pushed back to 3rd Quarter." I asked why Ford is selling a product with a none defect and his response was "because customers like those wheels!" He went on to explain he understood our frustration and that he can't do anything about it.

 

I have a 2014 F150 XLT Crew Cab, a 1967 Mustang, a 2014 Ford Fusion, and I OWN Ford Stock!!!!! How the hell can a company get away with knowingly installing parts with a defect on a vehicle!!!

 

 

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Does anyone have any idea of what ford is working on to fix this? Will the rims be the same but improved clear coating? I really dont want diffrent Rims. They need to find a solution for this. Its terrible to have a car looking like this in the summer.

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FYI I too got the notification from Ford that they won't be available until the third quarter obviously I'm not happy about this that it's taking so long. Very disappointing for a vehicle that is less than a year old . Let's just hope the fix is permanent and that it won't happen again

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I have a 2014 that we bought new in the fall, 20k miles and we noticed the peeling this spring--all 4 wheels and pretty bad. I took it to the dealership and got the same story that they are not replacing them now, but will have a resolution in 3rd Q. I don't mind that--just so I can be sure they won't peel again!! I specifically bought this car off the lot because it was gorgeous--white pearl, beige leather, and these rims. The gloss even has a pearlescent effect--really nice. I get compliments on them all the time--but not for long once the clear coat is all gone. They look horrible underneath--flat black and cloudy. Yuck! I certainly hope they find a new supplier or better finishing process so that it will be corrected for good.

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The bad thing about all this is we had a 2012 Mustang with a performance package including black rims, and it did the same thing, Ford replaced those rims, then I had my daughter and we traded for the Fusion.

 

I was told by the Ford Regional Customer Service Manager that this has been a KNOWN issue since 2011!!!! So Ford has knowingly put defective parts on their cars since then!! This is absolutely unacceptable! I really don't see how they have gotten away with this!

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How can they do it? It's certainly not illegal as long as they replace them while they're under warranty. Almost every mfr has some part somewhere that is known to fail but they either haven't come up with a solution or they don't want to spend the money to redesign them.

 

I'm not suggesting they're doing the right thing by continuing to sell them and/or replace them with the same wheels - seems wrong to me. But you asked How, not Why. :)

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We are having the same problem with our 2014 Fusion. Purchased the Fusion because my wife wanted the black rims. Back two rims starting peeling a few months after we purchased it. Took it to the dealer and they ordered two new ones. The mechanic damaged them during installation so they then had to order two more. Finally got them replaced and now a few months later the two remaining original rims and the two new ones that were replaced are peeling. Took it to the dealership and they gave us the same line. "Ford will have a fix for it in the 3rd quarter". This is not good customer service. When you pay that much money for an option, they should make it a priority to get this issue fixed. If they don't come up with a satisfactory fix for this issue, will not buy another Ford.

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Akirby,

 

They aren't replacing them, that's the whole point. I took my car to the dealership in April and they said "we know about the issue, we're trying to figure it out, your wheels won't be replaced at this time."

 

Also your wrong in your argument that they can legally do it, I've spoken to several government agencies this past week and they all said its illegal to knowingly put a defective product on a vehicle or in the marketplace period. They have known about this since 2011, 4 years later and "they are trying to figure it out!" Give me a break!!!!

 

You don't spend $$$$ on a car to have the clear coat peel off the rims and then your warranty be refused!

Edited by OUsooner08
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If they really are working on a permanent fix then it makes sense to wait for it instead of continuing to replace them. However I absolutely agree that it's taken way way too long to fix this.

 

You'll have to cite the law that says it's illegal to sell a car with wheels with peeling paint. I can't find it.

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On set # 2 and they are starting to do the peeling again.

Does anyone know what can be used to polish out swirl marks on these black wheels? I had gone through a car wash with tire shine brushes and it left marks on the wheel. Car wash will claim no responsibility.

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So I took my car to the dealership where i bought my vehicle and was told that my rims peeling was from me or ford using harsh chemicals on my wheels. I've had the car for 2 months and have never washed the car yet. Its been raining so much in the south right now. Ford told me that it was not covered under my warranty which I cant believe. Cant believe Ford would lie to me like this and know that everyone on this forum is having the same problem. A friend of mine has a dodge charger with black wheels for 2 years and has never had a problem with any kind of peeling. He never waxes or polishes them just runs it through the car wash. I am seriously considering trading the car in based on a problem that Ford cant own up to.

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So I took my car to the dealership where i bought my vehicle and was told that my rims peeling was from me or ford using harsh chemicals on my wheels. I've had the car for 2 months and have never washed the car yet. Its been raining so much in the south right now. Ford told me that it was not covered under my warranty which I cant believe. Cant believe Ford would lie to me like this and know that everyone on this forum is having the same problem. A friend of mine has a dodge charger with black wheels for 2 years and has never had a problem with any kind of peeling. He never waxes or polishes them just runs it through the car wash. I am seriously considering trading the car in based on a problem that Ford cant own up to.

 

Major correction - FORD didn't tell you this, the dealer did. You need to find a different Ford dealer who won't lie to you.

 

Now Ford has recently said they're working on a fix and they don't want to keep replacing the wheels right now, but that doesn't mean they're blaming you or that they won't replace them in a few months.

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Your right.... A PLANET FORD MECHANIC told me it was peeling by cleaning the wheels with hash chemicals. I was told that this wasn't covered under my warranty. Car has 20,000 miles. I called ford directly and was told that the technicians have the authority to say whether or not parts are covered under 36,000 miles/3 year warranty. Yes they did suggest to get a second opinion at another dealership. No pictures were taken of the wheels to further determine by Ford whether the peeling was factory defective or not.

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Your right.... A PLANET FORD MECHANIC told me it was peeling by cleaning the wheels with hash chemicals. I was told that this wasn't covered under my warranty. Car has 20,000 miles. I called ford directly and was told that the technicians have the authority to say whether or not parts are covered under 36,000 miles/3 year warranty. Yes they did suggest to get a second opinion at another dealership. No pictures were taken of the wheels to further determine by Ford whether the peeling was factory defective or not.

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So the technicians don't know what or how you clean the wheels with. Also this is a known issue since 2011, I have two vehicles with black rims, both are doing the exact same thing.

 

After some digging I've found out Ford is working on a permanent fix and should have an answer by end of Q3.

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I have a 2013 Ford Fusion SE with the 18in black wheels. I'm on my second set and they are peeling really bad. My local ford dealer (NY) also said they are not replacing them at the moment and to call back. Ford is working on a solution for Q3. They gave no indication what the "solution" would be. I only have 5,000 miles left on my warranty so I hope they figure it out soon.

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