Brought my 24 to the dealers body shop to fix my out of alignment door a couple days ago. Got a call back from the manager and they left me a message I thought was troubling.

 

With all due respect, these are not Lamborghini Aventadors, Ferrari F80s, or McLaren Elvas. They are pickup trucks.

If you're expecting every panel to be perfectly aligned and the gaps to be perfectly equal between every panel, your expectations are unrealistic (which is basically what the service manager is trying to help you do).

Certainly, any crazy big gaps or alignment issues should be addressed.

 

so what is so troubling about that message?
A Ford F150 is a work truck. The troubling part for me would be that you didn’t notice this stuff when you bought the truck. That is the time to find stuff like this not afterwards. Yes, we spent a lot of money on these trucks. However, it’s a truck. As mentioned above it’s not a hand built $300,000 vehicle. You may not like it, but if you really feel the need or desire to have all the panels perfectly aligned, go to a different body shop. Most dealer body shops are not the highest of quality in terms of perfectly flat panels, perfect alignment or perfect gaps. It’s just not what they do.

 

First off, that is the longest sentence I've read in a very long time.

What ever happened to "Quality is Job One". I don't care if it is a pickup. We pay top dollar for these vehicles, we deserve a properly built product.

 

yeah, you got me there. I was busy and use the voice dictation on that.


“Quality is job one” disappeared a long time ago, like back in the 80s.

If you want a properly build truck, you can get it. You’re just gonna pay another eight or $10,000 at your body shop having all these panels fitted to your perfection.

It’s a truck that’s built a factory, for decades things are being built for a profit. It’s not being built to be the best truck on the planet with absolutely zero deficiencies.

 

Oh I see, I'm just one of those old guys who still believe when you do a job you do it right.

 

Man you guys bleed blue. You’re telling me a machine in this day and age can’t align 2 pieces of metal within 1/4”, 1/8”? More likely ford hasn't updated equipment in decades or they bought knock offs from alibaba to save some money. these are things that could be better from the factory but they earnings goals to reach that will trigger huge bonuses.

 

Panel fit should be at least as good as the competition to maintain or grow market share.

Acceptable panel fit should be easier than ever to achieve with cnc and cad/cam than it was in the 50's unless the manufacturer doesn't care. What is acceptable to some isn't to others.

Agree its only a truck but if doors need to be slammed, leak water, have wind noise, or are dragging on the fender than its not acceptable.

Ford does seem to struggle with leaky cowl seams and sunroof drains.

That giant one sentence paragraph with no punctuation is interesting though. The original complaint isn't noted unless I missed it.

 

Wasn't really a complaint, just found it telling that Ford employees notice build quality issues daily and its the current norm.

 

I don't look at them that closely...lol