Towing out from driveway back first 😱

[dtbaker61]

That’s not the problem as I see it. Someone posted a photo of their MME a while back after it had been rear-ended. It had a tow hitch and the tow hitch destroyed the rear bumper mounting bosses. Not sure if the US market cars have the structural integrity at that spot that the EU cars do. Obviously, something needs to be done, but not sure exactly what that is.

a tow bar across connecting the two chassis rails would be stronger (like a secondary bumper), or the bumper itself could be beefed up in future ready for a 'universal' mount receiver.

left/right tow loops aftermarket or pre-installed at factory dropping thru slots in the diaper would be far less expensive. And loops can be designed to bend/open before deforming chassis rail if they get yanked on too hard or rear ended

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[Mach-Lee]

That’s not the problem as I see it. Someone posted a photo of their MME a while back after it had been rear-ended. It had a tow hitch and the tow hitch destroyed the rear bumper mounting bosses. Not sure if the US market cars have the structural integrity at that spot that the EU cars do. Obviously, something needs to be done, but not sure exactly what that is.

I think I know what photo you're talking about, and I concluded they didn't install all the mounting brackets that came with the Torklift hitch. The frame metal the hitches bolt into is still very thin on the Mach-E. EU hitch uses backing plates that go inside the frame rails and is much better secured than anything we have in the US.

You don't need to install a hitch to prevent your garage from being smashed, just the software.

 

[krazieboy]

They probably could've just got 4 wheel dollies and rolled it out.

 

[Dude]

Plastic caps and tow point arrows option.
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUw6PULJZ8A

 

[River Rat]

Plastic caps and tow point arrows option.
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUw6PULJZ8A

Fixed link

 

[1969Mach1Mike]

They probably could've just got 4 wheel dollies and rolled it out.

You can move / turn a car with a single rolling floor shop jack. I do it all the time. Even in smaller spaces.

 

[Jarrattp]

So I finally got the car out. Now I’m wondering whether I should ‘settle’ to have the car repaired given the extent of the damages (ford says the battery is fine but how do I know for sure it hasn’t got some slight damage internally and might develop faults later) or request a completely new car. Does the car’s value diminish now that it’s been in an accident?

 

[dbsb3233]

So I finally got the car out. Now I’m wondering whether I should ‘settle’ to have the car repaired given the extent of the damages (ford says the battery is fine but how do I know for sure it hasn’t got some slight damage internally and might develop faults later) or request a completely new car. Does the car’s value diminish now that it’s been in an accident?

Given where they hooked onto there, I'd guess the battery didn't get damaged. That hole on the fairly thin sheet metal should rip through pretty easily without actually bending the rest of the pack. It's fortunate that they picked the hole on the very back end where it can rip easily. Doing that from a hole not on the very end (or pulling the opposite direction) could really destroy that rail.

I just ran out and took a pic of mine by comparison.

 

[RickMachE]

So I finally got the car out. Now I’m wondering whether I should ‘settle’ to have the car repaired given the extent of the damages (ford says the battery is fine but how do I know for sure it hasn’t got some slight damage internally and might develop faults later) or request a completely new car. Does the car’s value diminish now that it’s been in an accident?

Yes, a car's value is diminished by an accident. Absolutely.

 

[A-A-Ron]

Yes, a car's value is diminished by an accident. Absolutely.

Indeed. Most states allow you to ask for a diminished value claim where they'll compensate you for the loss of value. Finding what that should be is harder. Easiest way would be if your dealer could tell you what the reduced value is, but some don't want to risk getting involved in an insurance dispute. You can go to CarMax's website and fill out the form to get a sale value with and without a major accident to see what the difference is. Or if you file a claim through your insurance (and let them subrogate), they will probably give you a fair value (because they're going to get it back from the other company)

 

[WNKent]

This happened to me this weekend. Tow driver hooked into side rail as there are no tow hooks on the back of the car. He was pulling it with a hooks and it came off as he pulled up our driveway. How is anyone suppose to tow these cars from behind if there are no tow hooks at the back of the car. I know you are not suppose to hook into the rail because of the battery but I’m at a loss to know how to get the car out of my garage and to the service center. Ford was useless sending me the document showing the tow points at the front and saying: “I'm thinking the cable & hook would have to be routed under the vehicle to the front winch points. The vehicle would then be pulled back far enoungh to allow the TT to load the vehicle nose first. - or- manually push the vehicle back.” Does this sound like a good option to you? One thing is for sure this car has not been design well for towing and Ford seems to have no clue that it’s tow truck network has no clue how to tow.

OMG

 

[scoopman]

So I finally got the car out. Now I’m wondering whether I should ‘settle’ to have the car repaired given the extent of the damages (ford says the battery is fine but how do I know for sure it hasn’t got some slight damage internally and might develop faults later) or request a completely new car. Does the car’s value diminish now that it’s been in an accident?

Is the damage being settled by insurance -- or directly by Ford?

If insurance, you definitely should be demanding diminished value compensation.

I would also approach this potentially more delicately with Ford if they are covering the damage themselves, but just as insistently. I think you also need to understand from them what would happen if later on there was battery damage that didn't show up until later on. Is the bodywork being fixed at a body shop you're happy with? How much damage is there other than the little holes in the back?

The good thing is, as others have said, sounds like battery damage might be unlikely if the rails weren't deformed, and it's just that little piece at the end. But you might need to be worried about everything else that might have been damaged when your car went thru the garage door....

 

[1969Mach1Mike]

How many miles on your car? anything over 1k and you will not be getting a new car.

It took me 3 years of litigation and having no car to get a buyback for my focus that was sold to me (new) with mold and a transmission problem (suspected flood car). I finally had to join a class action on the transmission. They never compensated me for the 3 years I had nothing after they dismanteled my car completely and refused to put it back together.

 

[Monke]

How many miles on your car? anything over 1k and you will not be getting a new car.

It took me 3 years of litigation and having no car to get a buyback for my focus that was sold to me (new) with mold and a transmission problem (suspected flood car). I finally had to join a class action on the transmission. They never compensated me for the 3 years I had nothing after they dismanteled my car completely and refused to put it back together.

I am sorry to hear about your experience. I am surprised that you still bought another Ford after what you had been through.

 

[Z-one]

Given they had to drop the battery they probably got a good look at everything and were able to make sure noting was out of alignment. Wondering if the bodyshop could just bend it back, maybe a quick weld and small paint to make it look closer to new.

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