Ford sends mass Mach-E delivery delay emails [Updated with Ford's response]

[saurez7777]

My dealer called me today and said my MME is out of production and scheduled to be delivered by end of Feb. No delay...

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[Mirak]

I totally get the frustration - I would be, too. But technically Ford doesn’t owe anybody an explanation until the inventory arrives in customer hands. These cars still belong to Ford, even in transit.

No way this is a software issue, and as much as I’d like it to be a fix to the charging issues some have observed, I expect that’s a more complicated problem involving the stations. My guess is that this is some very mundane safety issue that none of the reviews even picked up.

 

[BlueMach]

I totally get the frustration - I would be, too. But technically Ford doesn’t owe anybody an explanation until the inventory arrives in customer hands. These cars still belong to Ford, even in transit.

No way this is a software issue, and as much as I’d like it to be a fix to the charging issues some have observed, I expect that’s a more complicated problem involving the stations. My guess is that this is some very mundane safety issue that none of the reviews even picked up.

Technically they "belong" to the dealers who have already paid for them, but I disagree that we are not entitled to a detailed explanation after a 14 month wait for the cars only to have our already built and shipped cars delayed again.

 

[macchiaz-o]

Only if it’s related to software or battery. ..... so my guess is it’s being kept ambiguous on Darren Palmers orders... lol.

Speaking of...

 

[eltonlin]

Got an email from my dealer: "Mach-E is undergoing additional inspection and as a result, delivery is moved back. Your new ETA is 2nd week of February."

Now this is for a car built 11/28 with no shipment or ETA notification.

Wonder if the OTA update referenced above has anything to do with the situation.

 

[MailGuy]

Actually most of us are still in the discovery phase, trying to figure out exactly which (group of) vehicles were affected and which weren’t. I think many of us appreciate the information even if it means some delayed owners unfortunately have to watch other owners receive their cars on time.

The fact that some folks are still on schedule is reassuring that hopefully the number of cars delayed is like 1-5% of the total cars ordered. If it turns out the delay affects 30%+ of total orders it could be bad for Ford with cancellations but we still don’t have enough data to give us the scale of the delay.

And we likely never will leave discovery nor know the real scope, scale or issue. Ford clearly doesn't want to reveal that. And that's the part that bothers me the most.

I have nothing but respect for Ford. Everything they've done to keep the Mach E on schedule and the insider's here who have shared insight and pride for their products is awesome. Built Ford Proud is not just a marketing slogan. But the marketing controlled message that is coming from Ford does not respect me as a customer. I, like most EV buyers and members of this forum, am a fairly intelligent, informed consumer. If there's a defect that needs to be addressed, tell me that honestly. I ship software for a living. I know it's imperfect. If a bolt needs to be tightened or a part needs to be replaced, tell me. Don't tell me you're going to do 2 months of quality checks on a car that took 10 days to build. I have after all spent $60K, yes spent. And yes, I know two months is an estimated aggregate number but the math and the explanation offered don't add up in my opinion.

This reminds me of the antics Toyota played with the launch of the 2018 Camry and Entune system problems. My car sat at the local port (after being built in KY) for two months with no other explanation than held for inspections. The dealer even eluded at one point they may be taking the car apart and actually inspecting and reassembling systems. Jeez!! It quite soon became evident Toyota was hiding the fact that the new Entune system was not ready. The fact that they offered to add Apple CarPlay support 18 months after delivery was the final resolution. But my impression of Toyota, as well as the car, is forever tainted because of it.

Ford, if you're listening, I'd really not like the same experience with my Mach E. I'm an adult that can handle facts. I don't deal well with misinformation and uncertainty however.

 

[janitorjim]

Speaking of...

an award to a car that really hasn't been delivered

 

[wareagle1440]

The problem that no one has mentioned is that Ford is a publicly traded company. But they’re a company that builds a dangerous product that has a huge number of ways that can cause real harm to individuals. That’s creates a huge conflict in that they must maximize profit or face lawsuits from stock holders while simultaneously not harming people with their product. I joked earlier about being a lawyer decision, but this is absolutely a decision from a lawyer. They can’t tell us because it could affect stock price and it could create liability because admitting a problem is acknowledgment of the problem which is an element for products liability. This was something large enough to stop those cars and make sure it is is not as serious as whoever found the problem thinks it could be ultimately. But was something big enough on the surface to have a lawyer go, you create liability by letting this go forward knowing the potential consequences.

Ultimately I’m happy they stopped and don’t make the same mistakes as the past (I.e. the pinto), but I hold no hope of them telling people at all or until much later. As a consumer though this bothers me because I am entitled to decide what risk I want to take and if you create a dangerous device, I’m entitled to know what risks exist so I can make an informed decision. But they won’t tell us most likely. But I’m happy to eat crow on this because it would be an improvement in how companies treat their consumers.

 

[Billyk24]

My dealer called me today and said my MME is out of production and scheduled to be delivered by end of Feb. No delay...

I bet the dealer does not have the latest information.

 

[Billyk24]

Got an email from my dealer: "Mach-E is undergoing additional inspection and as a result, delivery is moved back. Your new ETA is 2nd week of February."

Now this is for a car built 11/28 with no shipment or ETA notification.

Wonder if the OTA update referenced above has anything to do with the situation.

I am betting on the European Kuga PHEV fire issue that was related to the battery cells contamination via faulty factory production. Ford is awaiting for new battery packs to install before releasing to retail customers. This would play correctly into the time frame of 7 weeks+ delay and... the Escpae PHEV has been delayed to the first week of April 2021.

 

[MerryBrown]

The problem that no one has mentioned is that Ford is a publicly traded company. But they’re a company that builds a dangerous product that has a huge number of ways that can cause real harm to individuals. That’s creates a huge conflict in that they must maximize profit or face lawsuits from stock holders while simultaneously not harming people with their product. I joked earlier about being a lawyer decision, but this is absolutely a decision from a lawyer. They can’t tell us because it could affect stock price and it could create liability because admitting a problem is acknowledgment of the problem which is an element for products liability. This was something large enough to stop those cars and make sure it is is not as serious as whoever found the problem thinks it could be ultimately. But was something big enough on the surface to have a lawyer go, you create liability by letting this go forward knowing the potential consequences.

Ultimately I’m happy they stopped and don’t make the same mistakes as the past (I.e. the pinto), but I hold no hope of them telling people at all or until much later. As a consumer though this bothers me because I am entitled to decide what risk I want to take and if you create a dangerous device, I’m entitled to know what risks exist so I can make an informed decision. But they won’t tell us most likely. But I’m happy to eat crow on this because it would be an improvement in how companies treat their consumers.

I totally agree. This is the result of a bunch of lawyers and or financial people saying, Do Not tell the world we made a mistake/and or we found a problem (however small it may be)and it has to be fixed before we ship these cars out. Radio silence. Let people wait.
I find that those folks never talk to the marketing or the public relations people or if they do, they just tell them not to say Anything until they have reviewed everything a million times. So the folks that want to communicate with us, just give up and don't even try to let us know the simplest stuff. So we sit and stew and invent all kinds of rumors and drive each other crazy and @trutolife27 sends his wife off to Costco for more popcorn!

 

[MrRossKeys]

I am betting on the European Kuga PHEV fire issue that was related to the battery cells contamination via faulty factory production. Ford is awaiting for new battery packs to install before releasing to retail customers. This would play correctly into the time frame of 7 weeks+ delay and... the Escpae PHEV has been delayed to the first week of April 2021.

This could line up with @trutolife27 ’s hint that it “sounded major at first glance, but isn’t as major is initially thought” [my totally and utterly paraphrased quote, poorly]

 

[Redundant]

So that Vehicle Visibility screenshot is wrong and they used the word "stopship" to mean something other than "stop ship", or you're saying @machefan photoshopped his post? I'm not making any claims here, I'm just trying to reconcile this statement that there is no stop ship with evidence on the forum that their is. I just want my car.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...h-deliveries-imminent.2457/page-52#post-87063

True nuff I must say. Does say stopship on just some of the MMEs.

 

[SJ_Okay]

Speaking of...

Someone in the comments section telling him it will flop and that a Tesla can do 500+ miles on a single charge ??‍?

 

[hybrid2bev]

I am betting on the European Kuga PHEV fire issue that was related to the battery cells contamination via faulty factory production. Ford is awaiting for new battery packs to install before releasing to retail customers. This would play correctly into the time frame of 7 weeks+ delay and... the Escpae PHEV has been delayed to the first week of April 2021.

Nope! It’s just a double check of some early builds.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/whats-the-reason-for-the-delay.2800/post-87598

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