My thought is that if you have a demonstrable first contact, prior to 16 days ago, with a Ford dealer or other official Ford repair organization, you should simply state that it should be covered. Your basis is that it was raised within the warranty to an official Ford organ.

The rest is simply you having to do homework to enable these Ford outfits to properly do their job.

Don't be too strident or nasty, just state that it was reported within the warranty period and you believe Ford is therefore obligated to honor it. The rest is just ignorance on their part, but say this nicely.

For example: you know how hard these guys work, you don't expect them to have every item on the tip of their tongues, so you did some homework for them.

 

What's the issue with the harness work? I thought it was a true "safety" recall, with no expiration date and not limited to original owners?

 

You know, I think glennb has something there...

 

YES! A new TSB has been issued to replace the old one. I think you are OK and should get this very minor modification to your battery completed free of charge.

"TSB 09-18-06 - 2005 -2007 Escape Hybrid, 2006 - 2007 Mariner Hybrid - Instrumentation Warnings - Reduced Engine Power
Some 2005 - 2007 Escape Hybrid vehicles built from 10/13/2003 to 12/19/2006 and Mariner Hybrid vehicles built from 6/10/2005 to 10/11/2006 may have a red triangle illuminated on the cluster accompanied by an audible chime. In addition, the message center will indicate Stop Safely Now and the Powertrain Control Module will command the vehicle to shut down. Diagnostic trouble code P0A27 for Hybrid Battery Power Off Circuit will also be present.

Refer to the attached TSB 09-18-06 in its entirety and follow the service procedures to correct the condition. This service procedure replaces Customer Satisfaction Program 07B48 which expired on 8/22/09."

 

NO. It was never a "safety recall" or safety issue, and was never mandatory.
Recall has NEVER been used in the verbage to officially describe this.

It was a "customer satisfaction" prodedure to "prevent dis-satisfied customers" not to prevent loss of life.

 

I suppose you are correct John.....but it is highly unusual to get letters from the mfr announcing the "campaign" if it is just a optional, "happy customer" situation. I thought I remember we all got letters from Ford telling us to get it done (?)

 

If I had kept my letter I would scan it and post it. Keep in mind that if this problem happened in heavy traffic, in a city such that there might not be a shoulder, this could be a big deal.

 

(Neighbors car). 2008 high mileage FEH shut down, overheating. Restarted Fri. morning and got it to the dealership. Tech opened the radiator cap - no coolant moving. Tapped the electric water pump with a long screwdriver and it started up. Found the pump at a nearby dealership and installed it by noon. Loved the diagnosis and the promptness of the repair. Running like a champ again.

 

That's how the typical M/E Coolant pump diagnosis was explained to me:
1) overheating (and/or overheating DTCs)
2) visual inspection of coolant flow (or lack thereof)
3) manipulation of the pump to see if it changes

A weak link in the original FEH design not caught by Ford before production...I would have liked it if Ford had changed out all of them as a 'service campaign' once they had the new pump design....but no, they waited it out and collected approx. $650 for labor and materials for each one that was able to last past an owner's warranty period.

Certainly if they kept putting in original pumps after, say...., late '06 it would meet the definition of a Latent Defect. Overall, Ford engineering produced a quality product. Don't know if the 'business decision' not to replace all the M/E CPs will have an effect on how reliable the market place sees the FEH.

 

I believe this is the "recall notice" this thread is referring to: