[Mullet Crew Van]

Turns out there was a recall posted on Feb 24th related to the upfitter package.

Attempt 1: HR LWB Crew Van. Was trying to negotiate price with a dealer out of state but got a call from the sales manager telling me that he could not sell due to a recall. He wasn’t aware of the nature of the recall, but said his hands were tied and they were pulling the vehicle off the webstie.

Attempt 2: MR LWB Crew Van. Found a secondary option local-ish. Drove 1.5 hours to the dealer, did a quick test drive, and decided to pull the trigger. They started getting paperwork sorted when the sales manager walked out and said something to the effect of, “Yeah, so this is awkward…”. He showed me the recall notice and the associated $26k fine if they sell. The anticipated fix is scheduled for Q4 FY23. So we walked away and will wait to hear back from them tomorrow. Our name is on the van and they are moving it to the back of the lot until they figure out what’s going on. Sounds like they are willing to work with us for our trouble, which is cool. Before we set off for the dealership, I actually asked the sales guy about open recalls that may prevent us from buying. He wasn’t able to find anything before we got there, but turns out he just didn’t ask the right person. Oh well. These things happen. Hopefully they can get this sorted soon. I suggested they just remove the upfitter switches and replace it with a tow hitch. Fingers crossed.

Here’s the text from the recall. Summary: If you‘re eyeballing a van with the Upfitter package, you will probably have to wait until this is sorted. You can check VIN number here: Recalls | NHTSA

Feb 24,2023
Manufacturer Recall Number23C02
NHTSA Recall Numberawaiting#
Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available
SummaryCUSTOMERS THAT ORDERED A FORD SPECIAL SERVICE KIT RECEIVED AN AUXILIARY WIRE HARNESS THAT CAN CONNECT TO THE CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK CAN BUS. THE AUXILIARY HARNESS ALSO PROVIDES ADDITIONAL INPUTS AND OUTPUTS FOR UPFITTERS TO USE. WHEN THE AUXILIARY WIRING HARNESS IS CONNECTED THE VEHICLES HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING HVAC SYSTEM MAY NOT FUNCTION, INCLUDING THE DEFROSTDEFOG FUNCTION ON THE VEHICLE.
Safety RiskIF THE AUXILIARY WIRE HARNESS IS INSTALLED IN A VEHICLE, THE HVAC SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION. LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE DEFROST OR DEFOG FUNCTION MAY DECREASE THE DRIVERS VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
RemedyFORD MOTOR COMPANY IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH ITS SUPPLIERS TO PRODUCE PARTS FOR THIS REPAIR. WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOTIFY YOU VIA MAIL TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE PARTS AND LABOR. PARTS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE AVAILABLE 3RD QUARTER 2023.
"Manufacturer's Notes"TO CHECK FOR NON-SAFETY-RELATED PROGRAMS APPLICABLE TO YOUR VEHICLE, SEE HTTP://WWW.FORD.COM/ OR CALL YOUR FORD DEALER.

 

[UTSam]

Well sh!t.

I wonder if it's just on the Crew Vans. Mine's a Cargo and we've seen plenty of those go out without issue. We've not seen many, if any '23 Crews go out. Were these Vans '23s?

My Van is scheduled to be built in two days. Here I was hoping I'd get it soon, maybe still will.

 

[GapRunr]

Wow. Parts to fix this unavailable until Q3 FY23... minimum 5 months from now so service appointments in 7 months or more. So first Ford can't build enough Transits for a buyer who wants a non-Amazon configuration and now that they finally get it built, they can't sell it to anyone.

Sounds like Ford will have to do something drastic to refocus the consumer attention on the issues that matter... I'm guessing there is a new shade of grey coming out..

I realize the entire industry is having issues with availability of components but Ford seems to have put the Transit on the back burner. I see rows of F-150's on local dealer lots in a variety of colors, and there seems to be quite a few new Ford Edge SUV's around town lately. I see one or two new ones on the road every day. And while there are some issues with availability and dealer markups, there seem to be more people getting Promasters and Sprinters delivered than Transits.

 

[Mullet Crew Van]

Well sh!t.

I wonder if it's just on the Crew Vans. Mine's a Cargo and we've seen plenty of those go out without issue. We've not seen many, if any '23 Crews go out. Were these Vans '23s?

My Van is scheduled to be built in two days. Here I was hoping I'd get it soon, maybe still will.

If you have a VIN you can check it on the NHTSA site. Otherwise, it's a pretty new recall. Sounds like Ford is still getting it sorted.

 

[njvagabond]

I must be missing something. Sounds like it might be the harness that comes with the upfitter option (maybe even in a bag) is the cause of the problem. So instead of stop sales, wouldn't Ford be able to just have the dealers remove the harness as the recall, to meet the safety requirement. Then there would ether be a delayed fix to provide the capability of just issue a credit to the dealer. I suppose there might be some issue with the Monroney. Maybe that would need to be worked out with the gummint. Oh so Ford + Gummint ... nevermind. Of course could also be some garbled communication. Not like there isn't a precedent their either.

Hey, I wonder if this is related to the non-op HVAC systems reported on the forum? Perhaps those are folks with this cable plugged in? One of the posts did mention that Ford was sending an engineer to the dealer that has not been successful with repair after multiple attempts. Or that's just an independent problem in the myriad of Ford's issues.

 

[NW_Freedom]

I never plugged in my bag harness for my MY22. Not even sure this is the same thing those of us with the 22 are having issues with.

 

[UTSam]

If you have a VIN you can check it on the NHTSA site. Otherwise, it's a pretty new recall. Sounds like Ford is still getting it sorted.

Good call thanks, I’ll check that out.

 

[UTSam]

I never plugged in my bag harness for my MY22. Not even sure this is the same thing those of us with the 22 are having issues with.

Sh!t is your HVAC non-op, or was it?

 

[dbtweaver]

Mine is being built on Monday 3/6 and I'm not showing a recall.

 

[UTSam]

Mine is being built on Monday 3/6 and I'm not showing a recall.

OK, home now and checked my VIN with NHTSA. Scheduled build day of 3/2 and I show no recalls. Not sure if that means anything on a vehicle that isn't even built yet though.

 

[GapRunr]

So instead of stop sales, wouldn't Ford be able to just have the dealers remove the harness as the recall, to meet the safety requirement. Then there would ether be a delayed fix to provide the capability of just issue a credit to the dealer.

That would take common sense.... from a company that removes dual sliding doors when you add more seats, since more people apparently need less doors to exit from. And the company that assumes anyone who wants a Transit Trail doesn't have friends or a family, since you can't get a Trail with a Crew package or even just a second row seat. Imagine a Crew with swivel seats, that could easily form a dinette to eat at, and still have all that room behind the second row.

 

[CrewVanManInfo]

And what Ford did with taking some CrewVan models and converting them to a Transit Trail model and not thinking that smart Transit owners could not see that and then contact their dealer about ordering one! I got calls from Transit buyers wanting to get a Transit Trail CrewVan and had to finally call Ford to get some information about it. They laughed when I told them that people recognized the body styles they used and stated they would not offer it in a CrewVan model and that they were going to drop the CrewVan model all together after the 2023 model.

The Dual Sliding Side Door model was dropped because of slow sales and dealers not even knowing that the model existed. I had so many people come to me after they had went to their local dealer and ask about ordering one and they told them Ford did not offer that model. Even when I was working with Ford in 2017 on the CrewVan model, having the DSD on the CrewVan was one of the discussed options to offer and Ford would have had to make 2 different designs for the roof air bag system with the extra cutout for the LH doorway.

 

[CrewVanManInfo]

If you happen to want one of those Dual Sliding Door models, you can look at the 19 various body styles found on the Cargurus website. GapRunr had one of the rare ones in his year model as they only made 7 of those. I have seen 3 of them with his Blue Jeans exterior, another in Ingot Silver, and the last in Stone Gray.

The rare ones are the 2020 models with AWD and any body style with the 3.2L Diesel engine.

 

[Tchgrif]

when I picked up my 22 cargo in late November there was this up-fitter wiring harness on the floor in a bag, I asked the sales guy if he wanted it as I would just throw it away and he took it. my ventilation is working perfectly but I have seen many complaints on here with the same big screen climate control, wonder if these people who are having trouble have that wiring harness installed?

 

[njvagabond]

That would take common sense.... from a company that removes dual sliding doors when you add more seats, since more people apparently need less doors to exit from. And the company that assumes anyone who wants a Transit Trail doesn't have friends or a family, since you can't get a Trail with a Crew package or even just a second row seat. Imagine a Crew with swivel seats, that could easily form a dinette to eat at, and still have all that room behind the second row.

IIRC Ford was last to the party with DSD in the minivan segment. The added insult was the stopgap 6" longer "King door" ... I mean Family Entry System Door (FESD?) which made driver access more difficult in tight spots. Maybe it was marketed for for the folks that missed (out on) owning a 2 door Continental. Here is an actual Ford marketing document that shows the deficiency advantage

Speaking of stupid marketing and seats. In 2020 heated cloth seats in a T350 was a no go. For heat you had to either leather get leather or go with a T250.

 

[njvagabond]

That would take common sense.... from a company that removes dual sliding doors when you add more seats, since more people apparently need less doors to exit from. And the company that assumes anyone who wants a Transit Trail doesn't have friends or a family, since you can't get a Trail with a Crew package or even just a second row seat. Imagine a Crew with swivel seats, that could easily form a dinette to eat at, and still have all that room behind the second row.

IIRC Ford was last to the party with DSD in the minivan segment. The added insult was the stopgap 6" longer "King door" ... I mean Family Entry System Door (FESD?) which made driver access more difficult in tight spots. Maybe it was marketed for for the folks that missed (out on) owning a 2 door Continental. Here is an actual Ford marketing document that shows the deficiency advantage

View attachment 186627

Speaking of stupid marketing and seats. In 2020 heated cloth seats in a T350 was a no go. For heat you had to either leather get leather to get heat or go with a T250.

 

[Wood worker man]

Mine is affected by this recall, and now I am not able to pick it up and may end up having to wait until September or later.

 

[Mullet Crew Van]

Mine is affected by this recall, and now I am not able to pick it up and may end up having to wait until September or later.

Sorry to hear but glad it's not just me. The sales manager I talked to said that there's usually a massive knee jerk reaction that affects everything. Then they roll it back over a few weeks as they zero in on the problematic builds. And they'll often figure out some compromise fixes in the interim. His recent experience was related to the Bronco Sport, though. Higher demand vehicle with way more units affected. A few Transits on a smattering of lots around the country probably aren't high on the list of priorities for Ford or the dealerships.

The guys I was dealing with did feel pretty bad. We drove a good distance to get to the dealer, and based on my easier experience that day, I asked about this specific recall. They didn't find anything when they asked around and it wasn't until we were making the deal that they found the recall. If we get the chance to purchase, they say they'll make up for it... So we'll see what that means in the end. Hopefully we'll find out quickly!

 

[CrewVanManInfo]

Ford has found out about a problem with a wiring harness within the Ford Transit that has caused a recall to be issued on certain models. On the one we have with this recall, it had the Auxiliary Fuse Panel but it has been related to us that having the Upfitter Switches also has this same harness and both of those options are triggering the recall.

What this means so far is your dealer cannot release the Transit until this harness is replaced. They are telling us it may be as late as the 3rd quarter of 2023 which relates to sometime in September. Biggest problem I see other than not getting the Transit is by not being able to pay for the vehicle, your possible financing options may be delayed and cause your rate to increase the longer it takes for Ford to fix this problem.

If your Transit is part of this recall, you may want to call Ford Customer Service and request some kind of rebate related to this problem. You may even get more details on the recall and they can make a note within your Ford VIN information that you have called them.

 

[Paddy_No_Van]

Ford has found out about a problem with a wiring harness within the Ford Transit that has caused a recall to be issued on certain models. On the one we have with this recall, it had the Auxiliary Fuse Panel but it has been related to us that having the Upfitter Switches also has this same harness and both of those options are triggering the recall.

What this means so far is your dealer cannot release the Transit until this harness is replaced. They are telling us it may be as late as the 3rd quarter of 2023 which relates to sometime in September. Biggest problem I see other than not getting the Transit is by not being able to pay for the vehicle, your possible financing options may be delayed and cause your rate to increase the longer it takes for Ford to fix this problem.

Such wonderful news.

I'm jumping up and down with joy, fist pumping the air, and screaming hallelujah!

On second thought, I am really pissed off over this, maybe to the point of having a therapy animal to assuage my anger.

Ford never fails to disappoint with these vans.