I'm about to start doing some major mods and I was thinking I should have a dealer check the car out for any pending TSBs. While I was installing my axle back, I noticed oil stains on the axle tube around the vent. I already ordered the finned GT500 diff cover from Steeda. Should I even bother having that TSB done?

 

Are there any TSB's out for your VIN?

 

If your dealer is anything like most, they're not going to comb your car for problems that may or may not be there, unless you're going to pay them to look. Unless your car is exhibiting any of the problems, quit waiting for them to appear - they're TSB's for a reason and that reason is that they're not common enough to necessitate a recall, no matter how much being on this forum makes you believe your car is 10 miles from 15 different problems. And I know, it's easy to think that when you're only seeing complaints/questions about those things on here.

 

I would only take it in if you are experiencing the problem.

 

I disagree. A recall and a TSB are not the same thing; a recall is only for safety issues, while a TSB is for a non-safety related manufacturer's defect or flaw and any car can and should have any and all TSBs done before they expire, regardless of whether or not the vehicle is exhibiting the problem.

For example, my wife's '12 Beetle has a TSB valid through January '15 for window motors. Regardless of whether the car has problems with the windows or not, customers are told to bring their cars in and have the TSB done. If they don't, and the windows mess up after the TSB expires, then the customer is SOL.

Is there a place to check for outstanding TSBs based on VIN online?

 

Except that they're only going to do the work if your car exhibits the problem. Like how not everybody that has a Mustang gets new lower control arms and heat shields but only those that are actually exhibiting the squeaking symptoms.

 

If that's true, that's pretty disappointing from Ford. What do they do if your car exhibits those symptoms after the TSB expires? Tell you TS? That'd be the last car I'd buy if that were the case.

 

Yep. Pretty sure that's the way they all work though, not just Ford. If all cars get the part, that's a recall, not a TSB.

 

No it's not. Because as mentioned above, recalls involve safety issues and notices are sent out. TSBs cover everything else and are done a) if the car is exhibiting the issue, or b) it will save the manufacturer and owner time/money by addressing it at the car's next visit.

Some of you who have never worked in the industry shouldn't answer questions like this.

 

The manufacturers I have experience with send out notices for TSBs and good will them for all affected vehicles, symptoms present or not. Ford would be the first IME who says TS if your vehicle isn't experiencing the symptoms.

 

Ok, thanks for chiming in and I'll let you cover all the questions from here on out throughout the forum...but I was saying exactly what you did in point A above. Ford ain't fixing all cars affected by a TSB, just ones exhibiting the problem.

 

But you also stated that if every car exhibits it, it's a recall. That is false. Just because every car exhibits a problem, doesn't mean it will turn into a recall. Recall = safety item. TSB that every car exhibits and is NOT a safety item still = TSB.

 

Things like: bubbling paint on hoods/trunks, squeaky front control arms due to heat messing up the bushings, plastic rubbing off steering buttons, etc...those are things that are not safety items, but almost every car is affected by them. Not recalls.

 

Fair enough but there are tons of guys with all of those problems on this forum trying to figure out how to get them covered by Ford so it's not so simple.

 

No I hear you, and I'm pretty sure were in agreement that Ford *should* be covering these things and they aren't. It's disappointing. You can't even completely blame it on the dealers, because some are trying to take the work and Ford Corporate is denying it.

 

Also,I apologize for coming off as a d*ck. That said, what we, as customers, *feel* is the right course of action, isn't always what the manufacturer feels. Trust me, I know all about this. I stood up for a customer to upper management, and that's why I no longer work for my previous employer. Apparently SAYING you're all about customer service is the same as actually walking the walk in Tesla Motors' opinion. That didn't jive with me.

 

No worries. Cheers man.

 

Hi DarkHorse305,

If you are experiencing any concerns, you should bring it in to your dealer. Your vehicle must be fully diagnosed and the concern duplicated in order for your Ford dealership to attempt any repairs on it. With the diagnosis, they can look up any TSBs, SMS, etc. that may apply to your vehicle.

Also, a TSB is a repair procedure sent to our dealers in case someone comes in with a specific concern (does not expire). It is not a Recall and it’s only covered under your new-vehicle limited warranty.

Deysha

 

There are TSB's (not recalls, like explained above), these are simply repair procedures for an issue that they've seen through warranty claims, and Ford issues the TSB to let the tech know to check a particular area first, and sometimes the TSB's are issued simply to come up with a labor operation that cuts down the labor they pay since it's an often done procedure and there's no need for all kinds of testing and other labor ops that jack up the warranty claim foolishly. They don't expire.

There are Special Service Messages. These are bits of info that Ford provides once a tech inputs a car's VIN and certain symptom codes into the Tech website. These messages are usually not found anywhere else. They don't expire.

There are Recalls, usually only for safety items, and which stay with the car for as long as the car is around, until the recall is completed and reported by a dealer as having been done. Then it comes off the Oasis report. Recall gone.

And then there are Customer Satisfaction Programs. One of these is what I'm assuming is covering the VW window motors mentioned above by somebody. Window motors aren't necessarily a safety issue, but because apparently it's a common-enough issue, they chose to come up with a program to cover the repair for those concerned customers. These programs have expiration dates.


All that being said, NO dealer will run your VIN and start doing every TSB that might pop up, just because you ask nicely since you're about to mod the carp out of the car.