Broken spring at 33K

[reedmother]

Once again, my c-max has let me down.  The last time was having to replace all the brake and rotor pads at 24K. Now, it's a broken spring at 33K.  My car guy cannot believe it.  He called around asking about the warranty, but of course, it's not covered.  My husband and I are going to take this to Ford.  The first year everything went wrong with this car.  It stranded me twice, the AC did not work, it's been recall after recall.  Not to mention that the clock only tells us the right time for about 2 weeks.

[obob]

You might want to know this when talking to the Ford dealer. 

 

As far as i know, no one on the message board reported a broken spring.

 

I hope you post how that interaction goes.

 

Until I read your post I would have guessed it would be covered by the warranty, as long as it is within the 3 years.

 

 

From http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-servicing-repair/coil-springs-breaking.html

 

"There are myths suggesting that the problem is caused by 'cheaper metal', speed humps or over-loading but the simple fact is that springs are lighter, thinner and don't cope as well with salt and rust

...

Mechanical components are being re-specified so they will still do the job but may have less spare capacity. This has included specifying lighter, more highly stressed springs."

Edited September 5, 2016 by obob

[chad]

Not to mention that the clock only tells us the right time for about 2 weeks.

I had the same problem with the clock. It was fixed by having the Ford dealer update the Audio Control Module with the latest firmware as described here.

 

Hope that helps!

[reedmother]

I had the same problem with the clock. It was fixed by having the Ford dealer update the Audio Control Module with the latest firmware as described here.

 

Hope that helps!

my car has been to the Ford dealer many times - and they have "fixed" the clock many times.  I don't think it's up to me to tell them what firmware to use.

[reedmother]

You might want to know this when talking to the Ford dealer. 

 

As far as i know, no one on the message board reported a broken spring.

 

I hope you post how that interaction goes.

 

Until I read your post I would have guessed it would be covered by the warranty, as long as it is within the 3 years.

 

 

From http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-servicing-repair/coil-springs-breaking.html

 

"There are myths suggesting that the problem is caused by 'cheaper metal', speed humps or over-loading but the simple fact is that springs are lighter, thinner and don't cope as well with salt and rust

...

Mechanical components are being re-specified so they will still do the job but may have less spare capacity. This has included specifying lighter, more highly stressed springs."

we bought the car in January of 2013, so 3 years is up.

[reedmother]

I told our dealer that I've lost faith in this car and could I trade up to a 2016 c-max SEL.  Yep, I can.  All I have to do is give them my car and $18,000.  What a deal!  And, that's with about $5k in Ford incentives!  Yikes.  When I protested, he said "well, these cars don't keep their value"......I guess they don't want my car either - though I had gotten multiple messages on my answering machine a few months back telling me they had a shortage of used cars and wanted me to come up.  (what a bunch of baloney)

Edited September 8, 2016 by reedmother

[ptjones]

I'm sorry you are having problems with your 2013 CMAX Hybrid, CMAX's are fairly rare and FORD Dealers don't have alot of experience with them.  It is important to remember that this forum is for helping members with problems with their CMAX's and relaying this info to the service adviser. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't, but it is better than nothing. :)  Not all FORD Dealers are Created Equal. :sad:

 

I told our dealer that I've lost faith in this car and could I trade up to a 2016 c-max SEL.  Yep, I can.  All I have to do is give them my car and $18,000.  What a deal!  And, that's with about $5k in Ford incentives!  Yikes.  When I protested, he said "well, these cars don't keep their value"......I guess they don't want my car either - though I had gotten multiple messages on my answering machine a few months back telling me they had a shortage of used cars and wanted me to come up.  (what a bunch of baloney)

With the low miles you have on your CMAX you are better off keeping it and extending the warranty.  Otherwise I would shop around to FORD Dealers 100-200 miles away to see if you can get more for your CMAX. IMO :)

 

Paul

[raadsel]

I'm sorry you are having problems with your 2013 CMAX Hybrid, CMAX's are fairly rare and FORD Dealers don't have alot of experience with them.  It is important to remember that this forum is for helping members with problems with their CMAX's and relaying this info to the service adviser. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't, but it is better than nothing. :)  Not all FORD Dealers are Created Equal. :sad:

 

With the low miles you have on your CMAX you are better off keeping it and extending the warranty.  Otherwise I would shop around to FORD Dealers 100-200 miles away to see if you can get more for your CMAX. IMO :)

 

Paul

 

He might also go to Carmax and have them appraise his car, along with other dealers that offer a similar service (Carmax bid on your car is valid for a week). Even go to another dealership about a car you might like, tell them you are interested in trading your car and see what they offer. After that, go back to your dealership and, if they don't offer much on your C-Max, let them know about the other offers. In fact, I know in Texas you can sell your car and, if you buy a new one in the next few days (within a week, from what I recall)  from another dealer, you can still have the price you sold your old car deducted when they calculate the sales tax. But the big thing, let the dealer know you are looking around and they need to make a deal to get your business.

[obob]

I told our dealer that I've lost faith in this car and could I trade up to a 2016 c-max SEL.  Yep, I can.  All I have to do is give them my car and $18,000.  What a deal!  And, that's with about $5k in Ford incentives!  Yikes.  When I protested, he said "well, these cars don't keep their value"......I guess they don't want my car either - though I had gotten multiple messages on my answering machine a few months back telling me they had a shortage of used cars and wanted me to come up.  (what a bunch of baloney)

 

cars.com shows 2016 SELs starting at 22K.  They may be even cheaper in a couple of months when the 2017s come out.

 

https://www.cars.com/for-sale/searchresults.action?zc=19008&rd=99999&stkTypId=28880&mdId=49085&trId=24993&mkId=20015&sf1Nm=price&sf1Dir=ASC&sf2Nm=location&sf2Dir=ASC&page=1&perPage=50&sortFeatures=buryUsedLowPrice&sortFeatures=buryNewLowPrice&sortFeatures=buryLowPriceOlderThanSix&sortFeatures=buryNoPrice&searchSource=SORT

[reedmother]

Update - I just traded the car in for a 2016 c-max energi.  I didn't want to wait around for the next thing to go wrong - and they have got great incentives right now.  We usually don't trade and sell cars ourselves, but this one had way too long a service record for me to sell to anyone.  The new one is great, except the seats are not as firm!!