TimesLIVE Motoring contacted the manufacturer to find out more about these issues.
“We can confirm there is a field service action in place for the replacement of the front dampers on specific vehicles,” said communications GM Minesh Bhagaloo.
“This precautionary measure is being managed by Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa through a recall process involving certain Ford Ranger vehicles produced between March 1 2022 and January 23 2023. Typically, the required repair is completed within a day.”
Unfortunately Motus Ford Culemborg didn’t have stock while our Ranger was in the workshop so we’ll need to visit another dealership to have this done.
“With regard to the B-pillar matter, it is important to clarify that the issue is unrelated to the paint finish,” said Bhagaloo.
“Instead, it is connected to the distinctive e-coating applied to protect each vehicle from corrosion before the painting process. During the e-coating procedure — where the vehicle body is immersed in the e-coat bath and subsequently baked — there is the remote possibility for crystals to form between the spot-welded sheet metal.
“As these crystals gradually fracture due to usage, they can generate audible noise. It is important to note this circumstance falls under the classification of a technical service matter rather than a field service action. This information is disseminated to our dealerships to facilitate vigilant monitoring and action, only if required,” Bhagaloo said.
Despite not being able to replace our Ranger’s shocks or windscreen wipers, I was impressed by Motus Ford Culemborg. Its blend of friendly staff, excellent customer communications and swift turnaround times make it a dealership I can recommend to Cape Town Ford owners. Especially those working in and around the CBD.
• If customers would like to check if their Ford vehicle is affected by a recall they can visit www.ford.co.za/owner/recalls/ and enter the VIN number in the search bar.
2023 Ford Ranger XLT 2.0 SiT automatic double-cab: Update 5
ODOMETER ON DELIVERY: 9,308km
CURRENT ODOMETER: 16,500km
AVERAGE CONSUMPTION: 7.6l/100km
PRAISES: Friendly, timeous service from Motus Ford Culemborg makes servicing smooth sailing.
GRIPES: Lack of stock meant certain items could not be replaced on the day.
LONG-TERM UPDATE 5 | Our Ford Ranger gets serviced
Image: Thomas Falkiner
Our Ford Ranger XLT has been racking up serious mileage over the past few weeks. A trip to the Mother City plus a few forays in rural parts of the Western Cape saw the digital odometer closing in on the 15,000km mark, which is when you’re supposed to treat these Blue Oval double-cabs to a service.
Being a bit of a stickler for maintenance, I decided to book in our test unit sooner rather than later. So before I hit the highway home to Johannesburg, I dropped KX57HM-GP off at Motus Ford Culemborg, a large dealership on the Cape Town Foreshore.
Knowing service centres of this ilk can be overwhelmed with traffic, I played it safe and secured a slot in the workshop a week in advance by making an online booking on the dealership’s website. Receipt of this was confirmed via email and the next Tuesday at 8.30am I delivered our grubby, bug-stained Ranger to Motus Ford Culemborg BSI controller Samantha Qampi.
As she inspected the vehicle for damage before it was handed over to the mechanics (the vehicle’s interior and exterior are captured on camera), I beetled over to Service Advisor Letitia Trennery who double-checked my personal details and asked if there was anything other than routine maintenance that required attention. There wasn’t. Trennery also asked if I would like the Ranger’s wheel alignment and balancing checked, but as this was an additional charge not covered by the Ford service plan, I declined. Besides, there were no suspicious steering shimmies or vibrations to report.
Once the check-in administration was sorted, I was shown to the customer waiting lounge where I spent about two minutes deliberating whether to help myself to coffee before a driver appeared to take me to the Arena Holdings HQ at 80 Strand Street. On the road by 8.45am, I was at my desk and checking emails less than 10 minutes later. So far the Motus Ford Culemborg experience was proving to be a smooth one.
This fine customer service continued for the remainder of the day where Trennery sent me several email updates regarding the progress of our Moondust Silver Ranger. Once the double-cab had been serviced and treated to a much-needed valet, she gave me a call on my cellphone to arrange a time for the driver to pick me up from the office. I organised a 4.10pm rendezvous, which was met punctually and after a brisk meander through the Cape Town traffic was delivered to my gleaming steed just after 4.30pm.
Aside from the regular maintenance carried out, Trennery reported the Ranger’s front windscreen wipers needed to be replaced, but Motus Ford Culemborg did not have any in stock. Trennery also informed me that Ford had issued a service bulletin instructing our test unit’s front shocks be replaced under warranty and the B-pillars checked for “e-coating crystals”, which can lead to unwanted noise in the cabin.
Image: Thomas Falkiner
TimesLIVE Motoring contacted the manufacturer to find out more about these issues.
“We can confirm there is a field service action in place for the replacement of the front dampers on specific vehicles,” said communications GM Minesh Bhagaloo.
“This precautionary measure is being managed by Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa through a recall process involving certain Ford Ranger vehicles produced between March 1 2022 and January 23 2023. Typically, the required repair is completed within a day.”
Unfortunately Motus Ford Culemborg didn’t have stock while our Ranger was in the workshop so we’ll need to visit another dealership to have this done.
“With regard to the B-pillar matter, it is important to clarify that the issue is unrelated to the paint finish,” said Bhagaloo.
“Instead, it is connected to the distinctive e-coating applied to protect each vehicle from corrosion before the painting process. During the e-coating procedure — where the vehicle body is immersed in the e-coat bath and subsequently baked — there is the remote possibility for crystals to form between the spot-welded sheet metal.
“As these crystals gradually fracture due to usage, they can generate audible noise. It is important to note this circumstance falls under the classification of a technical service matter rather than a field service action. This information is disseminated to our dealerships to facilitate vigilant monitoring and action, only if required,” Bhagaloo said.
Despite not being able to replace our Ranger’s shocks or windscreen wipers, I was impressed by Motus Ford Culemborg. Its blend of friendly staff, excellent customer communications and swift turnaround times make it a dealership I can recommend to Cape Town Ford owners. Especially those working in and around the CBD.
• If customers would like to check if their Ford vehicle is affected by a recall they can visit www.ford.co.za/owner/recalls/ and enter the VIN number in the search bar.
2023 Ford Ranger XLT 2.0 SiT automatic double-cab: Update 5
ODOMETER ON DELIVERY: 9,308km
CURRENT ODOMETER: 16,500km
AVERAGE CONSUMPTION: 7.6l/100km
PRAISES: Friendly, timeous service from Motus Ford Culemborg makes servicing smooth sailing.
GRIPES: Lack of stock meant certain items could not be replaced on the day.
MORE:
LONG-TERM UPDATE 4 | Our Ford Ranger stretches its legs
LONG-TERM UPDATE 3 | Life with our award-winning Ford Ranger
LONG-TERM UPDATE 2 | Why our Ford Ranger XLT is the ultimate urban warrior
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos