Stick it out with ST, or call it?

[PandaST]

Need some honest help here... I'm sitting in the Ford service department thinking to go straight to Honda when I leave. I'm torn between wanting to love my ST and wanting to trade it for something more reliable.

I got my ST (2020) because on paper it seemed perfect for what I needed... SUV fits my soccer/softball dad lifestyle, the handling and speed satisfied my want for a sports car, it looked great, suitable for off-road needs, the interior layout was perfect for me, had all the features I wanted.

But I've been in and out of the service dept for so many issues it's comical. These include:

Leaking CV joint
Sync 3 randomly losing it's mind and acting like a ghost is randomly touching the screen (unsure if fixed yet)
Driver seat clicking/rattling
Catalytic converter issues
Lumbar settings randomly changing and digging into my back (they still haven't been able to fix and it's REALLY annoying)
Finish flaking off window switches
Wireless charger not working
As of this weekend, major squeaking coming from underside cover
Pretty sure I'm forgetting a few things

And now I'm realizing I was an idiot and let them take me for a moron on the 30k service suggestions, and Ford maintenance cost has gone way up.

So now I'm at the point where I need to either suck it up and get the extended warranty or cut my loses and go trade for a Pilot or something, during a really bad time to be buying a car in this current market.

So I guess to the point of my question, since some of these are common issues, do I look at this as something that I've gone through and don't have to worry about anymore and just enjoy the ST, or do I need to be assuming I'll continue to be making a lot of trips for warranty work in the future?

Sorry for rant/ramble, and thanks for any help! Pretty frustrated right now.

 

[ChasBG]

My sympathies. It sucks to feel that way about a car you want to really like, and do when everything is working. I drove an e46 M3 for a long time with similar love/hate relationship. I've only had my ST for a couple months and I haven't let myself fall in love with it yet. I bought used, 18K miles. The exterior door lock sensors were inoperable when I bought it. Fixed that myself. I have some kind of fluttering noise under the drivers side of the car that I have not been able to locate. Yesterday I pulled the rear wheel and used double-sided 3M tape to hold down some really floppy wheel liner material. I don't know if that's the culprit or not. I have an occasional burned oil smell that I haven't been able to locate. Seems Ford build quality had dropped off precipitously in recent years. My previous vehicle was a 2013 Explorer Sport. In 160K miles it never had any mechanical or electrical failure. I was hoping for a similar experience from the ST but clearly that's not likely. The new one just doesn't feel as solid.

I'm not convinced the Honda is going to be much better. Seems like all of the manufacturers are using the same materials and processes these days. It definitely won't provide the sporty feel of the ST. The extended warranty might be the best option, especially if you don't work on the car yourself.

 

[PandaST]

I'm not convinced the Honda is going to be much better. Seems like all of the manufacturers are using the same materials and processes these days. It definitely won't provide the sporty feel of the ST. The extended warranty might be the best option, especially if you don't work on the car yourself.

Thanks. Yeah that's a good point, I have this idea in my head that Honda = reliability and that Honda owners never seem to want to trade, but what little truth there might be from years ago and the current reality might be pretty disappointing!

 

[ChasBG]

The more bells and whistles on a car the more there is to go wrong. The Toyota 4runner is a very reliable vehicle. My son has one and I considered buying one before getting my Explorer. But the 4runner is ancient tech and it doesn't offer any of the creature comforts that I have on my Explorer. It's under powered and still gets only 17mpg max. I wanted a sporty SUV that got reasonable gas mileage and could tow a decent load for around $50K. There's not much out there that meets that criteria. I'm probably going to keep loving if for what it does well and cuss all of the gremlins that I have to chase down. I'm fortunate to have a pretty well equipped shop and don't mind working on my vehicles.

 

[Cdubya]

MY2020 have definitely had our fair share. And it's not over for you. The front axle hub actually is going to start leaking if it hasn't already. You won't know until you remove the plastic rectangular undershield in between yhe two axles. ...And according to Ford Boss on YouTube, doesn't look like Ford has fixed the o-Ring in question.

That said, most of what you've had are the main problems and those are behind you. I would definitely have the dealer check out your Sync if you still have b2b warranty... could be your APIM is faulty. Otherwise, make sure you are running the latest Sync, and you might be able to persuade your dealer for an APIM firmware update if it is not faulty but just quirky. We are all no strangers to the APIM reboot procedure (pwr + ffwd) which i must have done hundreds of times the past 4 years.

Also, I really doubt any mainstream 3 row SUV will be as fun to drive as the ST. I say stay the course with or without extended warranty.

 

[ChasBG]

I was also having SYNC issues. I updated to the recent release and that seems to have cleaned things up. I forgot that I'm also seeing the occasional backup camera blue screen. I'm old school and use my mirrors so its more of an irritation than a problem.

 

[Cajun Heat]

My sympathies. It sucks to feel that way about a car you want to really like, and do when everything is working. I drove an e46 M3 for a long time with similar love/hate relationship. I've only had my ST for a couple months and I haven't let myself fall in love with it yet. I bought used, 18K miles. The exterior door lock sensors were inoperable when I bought it. Fixed that myself. I have some kind of fluttering noise under the drivers side of the car that I have not been able to locate. Yesterday I pulled the rear wheel and used double-sided 3M tape to hold down some really floppy wheel liner material. I don't know if that's the culprit or not. I have an occasional burned oil smell that I haven't been able to locate. Seems Ford build quality had dropped off precipitously in recent years. My previous vehicle was a 2013 Explorer Sport. In 160K miles it never had any mechanical or electrical failure. I was hoping for a similar experience from the ST but clearly that's not likely. The new one just doesn't feel as solid.

I'm not convinced the Honda is going to be much better. Seems like all of the manufacturers are using the same materials and processes these days. It definitely won't provide the sporty feel of the ST. The extended warranty might be the best option, especially if you don't work on the car yourself.

Check the oil pan felt cover. That thing was the culprit for fluttering noises at highway speeds on my first ST, because the dealership did not put all of the clips back in.

 

[Cajun Heat]

Need some honest help here... I'm sitting in the Ford service department thinking to go straight to Honda when I leave. I'm torn between wanting to love my ST and wanting to trade it for something more reliable.

I got my ST (2020) because on paper it seemed perfect for what I needed... SUV fits my soccer/softball dad lifestyle, the handling and speed satisfied my want for a sports car, it looked great, suitable for off-road needs, the interior layout was perfect for me, had all the features I wanted.

But I've been in and out of the service dept for so many issues it's comical. These include:

Leaking CV joint
Sync 3 randomly losing it's mind and acting like a ghost is randomly touching the screen (unsure if fixed yet)
Driver seat clicking/rattling
Catalytic converter issues
Lumbar settings randomly changing and digging into my back (they still haven't been able to fix and it's REALLY annoying)
Finish flaking off window switches
Wireless charger not working
As of this weekend, major squeaking coming from underside cover
Pretty sure I'm forgetting a few things

And now I'm realizing I was an idiot and let them take me for a moron on the 30k service suggestions, and Ford maintenance cost has gone way up.

So now I'm at the point where I need to either suck it up and get the extended warranty or cut my loses and go trade for a Pilot or something, during a really bad time to be buying a car in this current market.

So I guess to the point of my question, since some of these are common issues, do I look at this as something that I've gone through and don't have to worry about anymore and just enjoy the ST, or do I need to be assuming I'll continue to be making a lot of trips for warranty work in the future?

Sorry for rant/ramble, and thanks for any help! Pretty frustrated right now.

I had a BMW X6 that stayed in the shop, most of the time, for the first 6 months we had it. When we were able to drive it we loved it, but when it broke again we hated it. That's what made my wife want to trade it in, and we did.

We now have a '22 ST and can't really complain about it's reliability. It has 25k miles on it and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

Have you thought about trading for a newer ST? The extended warranty sounds like a good option also since you do like a lot of things about it.

 

[TMac]

I would suggest this- think about what your next vehicle(s) might be, then go to the forums. I think you'll find that the Explorer is not the only vehicle that has problems. I haven't had the problems some others have had, (knock on wood), but coming from higher dollar vehicles, I'd have to say my biggest disappointment in Ford has to do with service. Service isn't how fast you cash my check, it's about how you take care of me afterward.

When you can't get in for weeks, no loaners are available, and they take two weeks to diagnose and then replace a friggin' battery...it's disappointing. I used to bitch about taking my Jag and Porsches into the dealership for $200 oil changes. But I have to say, they went over the top to get me in, I could drop them off in the morning, there was always a loaner for me, and that evening when I picked them up not only were they serviced, they were washed and vacuumed.

I like my ST; this is my first Ford and hasn't been an unreliable vehicle, but those $200 oil changes aren't looking quite so bad anymore!

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Need some honest help here... I'm sitting in the Ford service department thinking to go straight to Honda when I leave. I'm torn between wanting to love my ST and wanting to trade it for something more reliable.

I got my ST (2020) because on paper it seemed perfect for what I needed... SUV fits my soccer/softball dad lifestyle, the handling and speed satisfied my want for a sports car, it looked great, suitable for off-road needs, the interior layout was perfect for me, had all the features I wanted.

But I've been in and out of the service dept for so many issues it's comical. These include:

Leaking CV joint
Sync 3 randomly losing it's mind and acting like a ghost is randomly touching the screen (unsure if fixed yet)
Driver seat clicking/rattling
Catalytic converter issues
Lumbar settings randomly changing and digging into my back (they still haven't been able to fix and it's REALLY annoying)
Finish flaking off window switches
Wireless charger not working
As of this weekend, major squeaking coming from underside cover
Pretty sure I'm forgetting a few things

And now I'm realizing I was an idiot and let them take me for a moron on the 30k service suggestions, and Ford maintenance cost has gone way up.

So now I'm at the point where I need to either suck it up and get the extended warranty or cut my loses and go trade for a Pilot or something, during a really bad time to be buying a car in this current market.

So I guess to the point of my question, since some of these are common issues, do I look at this as something that I've gone through and don't have to worry about anymore and just enjoy the ST, or do I need to be assuming I'll continue to be making a lot of trips for warranty work in the future?

Sorry for rant/ramble, and thanks for any help! Pretty frustrated right now.

Dang I sympathize eith you. We had a 2020 ST that was one of the first ones built, and it had every problem that you will ever read. But, ever since we had to get rid of it I dreamed about it for a year and a half and finally pulled the trigger.

When your sitting in a shop all your can think about is the bad. Why am I sitting here with such an expensive vehicle or etc.? But if you look at the overall picture, there is nothing that can compete with the ST. You have to put down another 20k for a Durango 392 or even more for a Hellcat. Plus, Honda has its fair share of problems too.

If I were you, Id get an ESP and stick it out. Your probably out of the problem zone and an ESP will insure that. Plus with an ESP you get a loaner.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I also think that finding a grrat dealer will make everything better. There is nothing better than a dealer that does more than the average.

 

[DaveG ST]

I would say stick out. Let the dealer service dept get you fixed up. And yes, they are required to give you a loaner when your vehicle is in for warranty repairs. Also call Ford Customer Service, they will throw in an ESP usually at no cost when you report several issues to them. I am currently awaiting two flex pipes and a catalytic converter for my 2020, to be replaced at no cost, just my time.

 

[PandaST]

We are all no strangers to the APIM reboot procedure (pwr + ffwd) which i must have done hundreds of times the past 4 years.

Also, I really doubt any mainstream 3 row SUV will be as fun to drive as the ST. I say stay the course with or without extended warranty.

I actually had no idea about the reboot, thank you! My dumb self would fix the problem by pulling over, turning ST off, opening door, and waiting a little bit. And you're right, nothing out there would be as fun, at least not without another $20k.

Have you thought about trading for a newer ST? The extended warranty sounds like a good option also since you do like a lot of things about it.

I did think about it, but I managed to nab mine with 0% financing and rebates, so every time I look and current prices/offers I quickly back away.

I would suggest this- think about what your next vehicle(s) might be, then go to the forums.

Great point... grass is always greener and all. And you're right about it helping when they take care of you. Luckily I've finally gotten a rapport with a great advisor, and she's helped me out a lot including getting a loaner or two.

Dang I sympathize eith you. We had a 2020 ST that was one of the first ones built, and it had every problem that you will ever read. But, ever since we had to get rid of it I dreamed about it for a year and a half and finally pulled the trigger.

When your sitting in a shop all your can think about is the bad. Why am I sitting here with such an expensive vehicle or etc.? But if you look at the overall picture, there is nothing that can compete with the ST. You have to put down another 20k for a Durango 392 or even more for a Hellcat. Plus, Honda has its fair share of problems too.

If I were you, Id get an ESP and stick it out. Your probably out of the problem zone and an ESP will insure that. Plus with an ESP you get a loaner.

When your sitting in a shop all your can think about is the bad. Why am I sitting here with such an expensive vehicle or etc.? But if you look at the overall picture, there is nothing that can compete with the ST. You have to put down another 20k for a Durango 392 or even more for a Hellcat. Plus, Honda has its fair share of problems too.

If I were you, Id get an ESP and stick it out. Your probably out of the problem zone and an ESP will insure that. Plus with an ESP you get a loaner.

Good perspective, thanks. Sorry to hear you had the same issued! Yeah I think I've decided to stick with it and get the ESP. Last thing I need to do is trade for a Honda with a false sense of anticipated reliability, only to realize I was wrong and be stuck with a higher payment and lower horsepower.

I would say stick out. Let the dealer service dept get you fixed up. And yes, they are required to give you a loaner when your vehicle is in for warranty repairs. Also call Ford Customer Service, they will throw in an ESP usually at no cost when you report several issues to them. I am currently awaiting two flex pipes and a catalytic converter for my 2020, to be replaced at no cost, just my time.

I never thought to do that, but I'm giving it a try for sure. Thanks!

 

[Dale5403]

I would say stick out. Let the dealer service dept get you fixed up. And yes, they are required to give you a loaner when your vehicle is in for warranty repairs. Also call Ford Customer Service, they will throw in an ESP usually at no cost when you report several issues to them. I am currently awaiting two flex pipes and a catalytic converter for my 2020, to be replaced at no cost, just my time.

Please share where the dealer is required to provide a loaner. I'm sure members would love to see that.

 

[DaveG ST]

Please share where the dealer is required to provide a loaner. I'm sure members would love to see that.

If you call Ford Customer Service they will explain this to you and also they will contact your dealer without hesitation if you let them know the dealer is balking on the loaner. They did tell me that worse case scenario I would need to rent a vehicle on my own and Ford would reimburse me. When you get a loaner from a dealer during warranty repairs you will see it included on the warranty claim that the dealer sends to Ford, as the dealer is reimbursed by Ford for this expense.