ice-capades Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 (edited) 2024 Ford F-150 Pickups Being Stashed at Dearborn Test Track https://fordauthority.com/2024/02/2024-ford-f-150-pickups-being-stashed-at-dearborn-test-track/ As Ford Authority originally reported back in April 2021, The Blue Oval’s Dearborn test track has previously been used to store incomplete Ford F-150 pickups, which were partially assembled and then stashed away as the automaker awaited parts that were difficult to come by at the time due to various supply chain shortages. This trend continued into 2022 and even included the Ford F-150 Lightning as well, and now, sources familiar with the matter have told Ford Authority that there are a host of 2024 Ford F-150 pickups being stashed at the Dearborn test track, too. There are currently a number of 2024 Ford F-150 pickups parked at the Dearborn test track, along with some 2024 F-150 Lightning pickups, too, though it’s unclear why this is the case. It’s possible that the launch of the refreshed 2024 F-150 pickup, specifically, is being impacted by supply chain issues or potentially even quality checks, however. In fact, as Ford Authority reported early this month, even though production of the refreshed 2024 Ford F-150 is already underway, that process was paused at the Dearborn Truck Plant from January 25th-31st, resulting in the temporary layoffs of around 5,200 UAW workers. The same was true of the Kansas City Assembly plant, where assembly was paused from January 25th-February 1st, impacting around 4,500 workers, though production has since resumed at both plants. Both production pauses stemmed from a supplier parts issue, though FoMoCo didn’t reveal which supplier, nor what part caused these temporary shutdowns. Over the past year or so, The Blue Oval has also paused production of a few refreshed or redesigned models when it discovered quality issues early in that process as well – a list that includes the F-150’s F-Series counterpart, the 2023 Ford Super Duty – though that process proved costly. Regardless, Ford CEO Jim Farley recently stated that the automaker is using the Toyota Tundra as a quality benchmark for the 2024 F-150, so it’s certainly possible that the automaker won’t begin deliveries until it rectifies any potential issues it has discovered early in the production process. Edited February 24 by ice-capades Additional Content Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Yep. Saw this on my way to class on Wednesday. There’s Rangers being stored not far away as well. Happens during every launch 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Has the 2024 F150 not reached ok to buy yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 14 minutes ago, akirby said: Has the 2024 F150 not reached ok to buy yet? Either that or there already a glitch….. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 35 minutes ago, akirby said: Has the 2024 F150 not reached ok to buy yet? All this Detroit News article says is that they are now being shipped to dealers. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2024/02/23/ford-pauses-f-150-lightning-shipments-lengthened-quality-check/72717996007/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Storing F150s that are missing parts to complete is not a new thing, it’s been going on for at least the last two years. Maybe more likely a reporter has just discovered that the test track is being used for this purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 1 hour ago, jpd80 said: Storing F150s that are missing parts to complete is not a new thing, it’s been going on for at least the last two years. Maybe more likely a reporter has just discovered that the test track is being used for this purpose. They just got the ok to buy according to the news article so those are likely just waiting on inspections before shipping. Ford isn’t building vehicles with missing parts now, or so they say. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 (edited) 1 hour ago, akirby said: They just got the ok to buy according to the news article so those are likely just waiting on inspections before shipping. Ford isn’t building vehicles with missing parts now, or so they say. F150 production was paused temporarily in February due to parts shortages…… Quote https://fordauthority.com/2024/02/2024-ford-f-150-production-impacted-by-parts-issue/#:~:text=“Production was paused temporarily because,to deliver on that commitment.” As a result, 2024 Ford F-150 production at the Dearborn Truck Plant was paused from January 25th-31st, resulting in the temporary layoffs of around 5,200 UAW workers. The same was true of the Kansas City Assembly plant, where production was paused from January 25th-February 1st, impacting around 4,500 workers, though production has since resumed at both plants. Both production pauses stemmed from a supplier parts issue, though FoMoCo didn’t reveal which supplier, nor what part caused these temporary shutdowns. Meanwhile, this particular issue also paused F-150 Lightning production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center during the same exact dates as the Dearborn Truck plant, though now, all three facilities are back up and running with regular factory shifts in operation as the automaker works to make up for that lost time. Edited February 24 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 But were they already shipping before that or did the parts issue just delay ok to buy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice-capades Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 (edited) 2024 Ford F-150 Dearborn Track Inventory Situation Explained https://fordauthority.com/2024/02/2024-ford-f-150-dearborn-track-inventory-situation-explained/ Last week, Ford Authority reported that a number of 2024 Ford F-150 and Ford F-150 Lightning pickups were spotted at the automaker’s Dearborn test track, which was previously used to store incomplete pickups that were partially assembled and then stashed away as the automaker awaited parts that were difficult to come by due to various supply chain shortages. At that time, it was unclear if this was why The Blue Oval was parking a number of 2024 Ford F-150 pickups at its test track, but now, the automaker has shed a little light on the situation, according to Automotive News. Hundreds – or perhaps even thousands – of 2024 Ford F-150 and F-150 Lightning pickups have been piling up at the test track over the past few weeks, and as far as the EV variant is concerned, this action stems from a stop-sale implemented by FoMoCo due to an undisclosed quality issue. That stop-sale was issued back on February 9th, though it’s unclear when it will be lifted at the moment. As far as the 2024 Ford F-150 goes, The Blue Oval noted that it has begun shipping the refreshed pickup, but didn’t disclose if it had discovered any quality issues that might have caused this backup. “We started shipping the first newly designed F-150 pickups to dealers this week,” Ford said in a statement. “MY24 Lightnings started shipping last month. We expect to ramp up shipments in the coming weeks as we complete thorough launch quality checks to ensure these new F-150s meet our high standards and delight customers.” Over the past year or so, The Blue Oval has also paused production of a few refreshed or redesigned models when it discovered quality issues early in that process as well – a list that includes the F-150’s F-Series counterpart, the 2023 Ford Super Duty – though that process proved costly. Regardless, Ford CEO Jim Farley recently stated that the automaker is using the Toyota Tundra as a quality benchmark for the 2024 F-150, so it’s certainly possible that it’s working to complete thorough inspections or rectify any potential issues it discovered early in the production process prior to shipping those models to dealers. Edited February 26 by ice-capades Additional Content Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 Launch hold, as expected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 (edited) 6 hours ago, akirby said: Launch hold, as expected. By the sound of it, there was an undisclosed issue that caused the quality checks to take longer than expected. I’m guessing that this turned out to be a non-issue but the time taken made people think there was something more sinister to it. Strange that Lightning began shipments in January but then had the same stop-sale order. But yes, absolutely nothing to do with incomplete vehicle builds. Edited February 26 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice-capades Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 (edited) Ford Halted Shipments of 2024 F-150 Lightning Due to Headlight Issues https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2024/02/26/ford-2024-f150-lightning-headlight-electric-connection/72747145007/ Ford Motor Co. stopped delivery earlier this month of its 2024 F-150 Lightning pickups to address an issue that appears to be related to the headlights, the Detroit Free Press has learned "We're being told it's an electric connection with the headlights," Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, told the Free Press on Monday. "It's a new part for the 2024 model. The connector apparently can leak water and short out the lights. They'll flicker or turn off." He applauded Ford for deciding to stop shipments. "An important product like the F-Series needs to have all the quality issues addressed before trucks hit customer driveways. Making sure these issues are tackled first is good on Ford." Ford spokeswoman Emma Bergg told the Free Press that Ford stopped shipping the Lightning on Feb. 9 as part of quality control protocols, after beginning delivery in January on schedule. She declined to comment on the specific issue of concern. "We expect to ramp up shipments in the coming weeks as we complete thorough launch quality checks to ensure these new F-150s meet our high standards," Bergg said. "Quality is a massive priority, so we're not shipping vehicles to customers until the quality is right. We don't want trucks out there that are not up to our high standards." The 2024 Lightning, which is the bestselling electric truck in the U.S., was named the "Best Electric Truck" by Kelley Blue Book. "This is not a stop sale," Bergg said. "Stop ship is part of the built-in manufacturing process. It's all quality control." Ford said it cannot disclose when the vehicles will start shipping again. And the automaker doesn't want to forecast, as rushing to meet a stated deadline would be counterproductive, Bergg said. Ford dealers do have 2023 Lightning trucks on their lots for sale, she noted. CEO Jim Farley told industry analysts earlier this month that commitment to improving and protecting quality is among the company's top priorities. Edited February 27 by ice-capades Additional Content 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice-capades Posted February 28 Author Share Posted February 28 (edited) 2024 Ford F-150 Pickups Begin Shipping Out from Michigan https://fordauthority.com/2024/02/2024-ford-f-150-pickups-begin-shipping-out-from-michigan/ Last week, Ford Authority reported that a number of 2024 Ford F-150 and Ford F-150 Lightning pickups were spotted at the automaker’s Dearborn test track, which was previously used to store incomplete pickups that were partially assembled and then stashed away as the automaker awaited parts that were difficult to come by due to various supply chain shortages. Shortly thereafter, we learned that those 2024 Ford F-150 pickups were awaiting quality checks – an important step as the automaker is targeting Toyota as a quality benchmark – while a stop-ship had been issued for the 2024 F-150 Lighting due to a problem with the EV variant’s headlights. Now, just a few days later, those same 2024 Ford F-150 pickups have begun shipping to dealers, according to the Detroit Free Press. “We started shipping new 2024 F-150s to dealers beginning last week,” Mike Levine, Ford North America product communications director, told the Free Press. “We will steadily increase shipments as we continue going through our quality checks to ensure they meet the quality our customers expect. We are shipping exactly when we said we would and feel good about getting these trucks to customers.” As Levine noted here, Ford originally stated that it would begin shipping the refreshed 2024 F-150 in early 2024, and now, that’s precisely the case – even after hundreds or perhaps thousands of units were stored following the start of production back in December. Levine also noted that building vehicles and then storing them before deliveries begin is part of the automaker’s new launch process. As for the 2024 F-150 Lightning, Ford hasn’t set a deadline for when it might lift that model’s stop-ship, but noted that this won’t happen until it’s confident that all potential quality issues have been resolved. Edited February 28 by ice-capades Additional Content Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseodiaga4 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 (edited) On 2/26/2024 at 5:28 PM, akirby said: Launch hold, as expected. But why do this continue to be a trend at Ford? Edited March 2 by joseodiaga4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice-capades Posted March 2 Author Share Posted March 2 2 hours ago, joseodiaga4 said: But why do this continue to be a trend at Ford? Simple. Ford is trying to address potential quality issues with additional inspections and/or repairs by doing a "Launch Hold" prior to vehicles being shipped to dealerships. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 3 hours ago, joseodiaga4 said: But why do this continue to be a trend at Ford? This is a normal process for any launch. This launch was delayed even more by the strike. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisgb Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 7 hours ago, joseodiaga4 said: But why do this continue to be a trend at Ford? The article stated: "Levine also noted that building vehicles and then storing them before deliveries begin is part of the automaker’s new launch process." It seems to me that it would be more efficient to tighten QC at each assembly station during the build. Maybe Ford will be working toward that. But for now, the store & inspect method should help ensure that there will be fewer TSBs and recalls once they are in customers' hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice-capades Posted March 2 Author Share Posted March 2 1 hour ago, Chrisgb said: The article stated: "Levine also noted that building vehicles and then storing them before deliveries begin is part of the automaker’s new launch process." It seems to me that it would be more efficient to tighten QC at each assembly station during the build. Maybe Ford will be working toward that. But for now, the store & inspect method should help ensure that there will be fewer TSBs and recalls once they are in customers' hands. I think that the follow-up to the delivery holds is Ford learning about the quality control issues early, holding the vehicles for repair prior to the shipping release, and then updating the future build process to eliminate holds for the same issues. Holding the vehicles for repair prior to the shipping release should also reduce the expenses compared to issuing a delivery hold or TSB's and the related expenses should the repairs need to be performed at the dealership level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainp4 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 I think his question was more "why doesn't a 100+ year old company know how to make a headlight connector?" I'm assuming this is all an intermediate step trying to get a hold on quality before engineering/manufacturing catch up in coming years, but sometimes it just makes you shake your head... And before anyone attacks me, of course it's a good idea to have a stop ship and fix it, but the goal should be (and I'm assuming is, just seems brutally slow) to not need a stop ship in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 4 hours ago, Captainp4 said: I think his question was more "why doesn't a 100+ year old company know how to make a headlight connector?" I'm assuming this is all an intermediate step trying to get a hold on quality before engineering/manufacturing catch up in coming years, but sometimes it just makes you shake your head... And before anyone attacks me, of course it's a good idea to have a stop ship and fix it, but the goal should be (and I'm assuming is, just seems brutally slow) to not need a stop ship in the first place. Maybe because its a submanufacture that did that had a process wrong? Shit happens. Its like using the wrong sealant for installing windshields etc. Crap happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe771476 Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 I just can't help but wonder that the parts shortage is a conspiracy by someone to sabotage Ford and take away the best selling vehicle crown and to take down Ford. How do you like dem apples?!. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 14 minutes ago, Joe771476 said: I just can't help but wonder that the parts shortage is a conspiracy by someone to sabotage Ford and take away the best selling vehicle crown and to take down Ford. How do you like dem apples?!. I think your tin foil hat is a little crooked….. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice-capades Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 1 hour ago, akirby said: I think your tin foil hat is a little crooked….. Nothing like a good conspiracy theory to stimulate a discussion! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainp4 Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 On 3/4/2024 at 11:18 AM, ice-capades said: Nothing like a good conspiracy theory to stimulate a discussion! I thought up a conspiracy the other night that Elon was letting everyone use his superchargers and was just standing by until everyone switched, then was going to send the full juice to them and burn all of them to the ground. I sobered up and realized that was ridiculous, but would be a good one.🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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