scottfmcc

My wife's 2010 Fusion SEL has developed a horrible squeak anytime the driver shifts his/her weight in the seat. It sounds like it's coming from underneath either at the rails or at where the sea is bolted to the frame. Has anyone else seen/heard of this problem. The car has only 10000 miles and she's not a big girl!

I have a helpful dealer friend that gave me detailed updates on my order. Apparently when a vehicle is scheduled to be built, it's given a rotation number (i.e. a place in line). My ordered vehicle was "Scheduled to Day", and assigned a rotation number. That number changed several times before the vehicle went into Production status. Like you, I'm just hoping to learn about it.

Two of the Mgmt Lease units here that have the A-Pillar rattle were produced 11/18 and 11/22. Looks like the line guys may have been thinking about turkey...

OK - In at least one case here, it is NOT the plastic cowl. I buffered it every which way I could with foam tape (hey - worked on my Taurus!), and a rattling noise persisted, beginning at about 60 MPH and increasing in severity as speed rises. It sounds and feels as if there is something loose in the passenger-side A-pillar. The lessee is taking it to the dealer and I'll come back when a solution is found.

Another poster stated that the first 1,200 vehicles were issued to "executives" and were built before the "OK to Buy" was issued. I don't know when that was. However,at my Ford location, we have management-lease vehicles (sometimes referred to as exec units). All vehicles I mentioned that had this windshield noise were such units and were built in either late November or early December. Since I have an Explorer on order, I'm also very interested in the problem!

I'm going to test the quick fix I used on my Taurus (foam tape insert just under the plastic cowl) on a co-workers Explorer just to see if that is indeed the problem. But it will be up the dealers to fix it legitimately. Seems like something they really should have caught in wind-tunnel testing!

Janskim - this should work for you .... http://fordlabels.webview.biz/webviewhybrid/windowsticker.aspx?vin=1fmhk8f84bga21089

I polled several of the folks in my office that have received 2011 Explorers. All were early builds, and 4 of them have the windshield/cowl noise. Has anyone heard if any dealers have resolved the issue?

What kind of gas mileage are you seeing? A friend of mine has a FWD Limited, and after 600 miles the average economy says 15.8 MPG. That seems pretty low considering 75% of her daily commute is interstate.

It can be some time before the sticker is viewable. I placed my order 1/5, and I know the vehicle is scheduled to be built the week of 2/7. However the sticker is still not online. I believe that until the finalized order is actually sent to the plant to build, the sticker isn't available. Even that won't tell you when the vehicle will be delivered though. Once built it can be 10-14 days or more (assuming no holds, delays, transport issues) before the dealer receives the vehicle.

Can't wait! Ordered Silver Ingot Limited with 300A package, Charcoal Black interior, and Dual-Moonroof on 1/5/2011. Got the VIN, but still in Order Processing. Not yet Sent to Plant. Hope to have it by mid-Feb, but probably by Feb EOM.

Not a chance - at least not at the credit company. Hoping for a raise in 2012 now.

I have an order for a 2011 Explorer Limited. Build week is 1/31, but the Rotation Number keeps changing. Anyone know what's up with the constant revisions?

I've had the cowl-flap noise on my 2010 Ford Taurus. Kind of a buzzing sound. Not sure if the Explorer is the same, but the cowl on the Taurus is a softer plastic and, if stretched even a little, can be loose enough to vibrate at highway speeds. Ford replaced, but it could be a problem again later. Have seen fit/finish issue on an 2011 Explorer in our parking lot. Hood is clearly misaligned and actually sits off-kilter. Not by a lot, but noticable. Agree with earlier poster. Unit should never have left factory. If my untrained eye can see it, the factory should have. Awaiting my 300A Limited in Ingot Silver. Ordered 1/5. Due to be built 1/31. ETA 2/14. Based on comments here, that seems optimistic!