Body panel alignment issues

[davidw76]

Hi all, I've been in the market for a 2015 mustang V6 for the past few weeks. I test drove one but did not have a chance to do a full walk around. Prior to my current car I had a 2014 Camaro RS and I was very disappointed with the build quality. Body parts were not aligned, I had paint issues and the exhaust was rusted all on a brand new car. I sold it and bought a Honda in hopes of waiting and purchasing the new Mustang when it came out. That said, I read this thread from beginning to end and I must say that I'm getting cold feet. I'm very picky when it comes to my car and I don't know if I can accept some of the issues you're all facing. Are these issues affecting all cars off the assembly line or is this an issue of a bad batch. Anyone been to the dealer recently and checked some of the new cars on the lot for these same issues? Anyone from Califronia experience these problems? Thank you!

I checked my local dealer two or three weeks ago.. There were nine 2015 Mustangs and every single one had at least one of the usual issues which are...

1. misaligned hood, very narrow gap to fender on one side only, on some cars it actually touched the fender
2. misaligned (or misshapen) trunk lid
3. misaligned doors (usually driver side)
4. sloping rear glass, top of glass is lower on driver side
5. badly fitting seams where bumpers meet fenders (front and rear)

Some of these (like the hood), seem to be an easy fix. Others (like the badly fitting trunk lid) seem impossible to fix completely, at least on some cars.

I would recommend going to your local dealer and looking at all of their Mustangs for these issues (without a salesman looking over your shoulder). If you don't see any of them that means one of two things.. 1. The cars at your dealer don't have these problems or 2. The problems are not serious enough to bother you. Either way, you can safely go ahead and buy one.

If you see what I saw then I would either wait a while and see if Ford resolves these manufacturing issues, or buy something else.

If you order one from the factory, you'll have to wait and risk wasting your time if it doesn't meet your expectations when it finally arrives.

Sponsored

 

[Blaster]

Other than a droopy driver's side muffler that was replaced with a Magnaflow, my car's build quality, both body and mechanical, has been 100% PERFECT. Never expected something so well engineered and fit together.

:ford:

And this is coming from a very strong Toyota buyer.

 

[davidw76]

Other than a droopy driver's side muffler that was replaced with a Magnaflow, my car's build quality, both body and mechanical, has been 100% PERFECT. Never expected something so well engineered and fit together.

:ford:

And this is coming from a very strong Toyota buyer.

If that's true then good for you. I have looked at +lots+ of these cars and have never seen a "perfect" one, whatever that means. In reality there is no such thing, even the best cars are built to be within tolerances that are always greater than zero. Usually they are so small that you cannot notice them with the naked eye. In the case of the S550, not so much.

If you really believe your car is perfect, post high res pictures of the rear, showing the bumper, trunk lid, and rear glass, and of the front, showing where the hood meets the fenders and where the bumper meats the fenders. If I can't find something visibly out of alignment I promise I'll delete my account.

I don't get the Ford fan boy crowd. Ford is just another corporation trying to make as much money out of us as possible. They do not deserve unconditional loyalty.

Admitting that these cars have faults isn't attacking Ford or saying that this new Mustang isn't a great car, or saying that anyone who bought one made a bad choice. It's just being honest.

 

[rvlyssup]

If that's true then good for you. I have looked at +lots+ of these cars and have never seen a "perfect" one, whatever that means. In reality there is no such thing, even the best cars are built to be within tolerances that are always greater than zero. Usually they are so small that you cannot notice them with the naked eye. In the case of the S550, not so much.

If you really believe your car is perfect, post high res pictures of the rear, showing the bumper, trunk lid, and rear glass, and of the front, showing where the hood meets the fenders and where the bumper meats the fenders. If I can't find something visibly out of alignment I promise I'll delete my account.

I don't get the Ford fan boy crowd. Ford is just another corporation trying to make as much money out of us as possible. They do not deserve unconditional loyalty.

Admitting that these cars have faults isn't attacking Ford or saying that this new Mustang isn't a great car, or saying that anyone who bought one made a bad choice. It's just being honest.

Perfection is subjective...that said if there was such a thing, we'd all live forever young and be married to super models.

As for these cars, someones interpretation of being perfect may be that they do not have Grand Canyon sized panel gaps nor rear glass that is more crooked than a politician.

Fanboism to me mean all out hatred for anything not Mustang in spite of its flaws. Other than a few trolls that talk sh!t who do not even own a 2015, most of us on here have been more than forgiving & accepting than others.

Ya also can't fault the ones who got "perfect" cars.

 

[davidw76]

I have no problem with anyone who says they are happy with their car. I am pretty happy with mine now that Ford has fixed the worst of the alignment issues. It just bugs me when people claim they have "perfect" cars, because I haven't seen a single one, despite looking at all the Mustangs on local lots a few times. I don't think the word perfect is subjective.. it has a pretty clear definition, meaning something free of any flaws or defects.
Even the spy shots on this forum of 2016 cars show the same problems with the trunk and rear glass.

 

[Blaster]

If you really believe your car is perfect, post high res pictures of the rear, showing the bumper, trunk lid, and rear glass, and of the front, showing where the hood meets the fenders and where the bumper meats the fenders. If I can't find something visibly out of alignment I promise I'll delete my account.

I will wash the car tomorrow morning and take pics. No need to delete your account.

I have seen photos on this site of the misaligned panels and they are STUNNING and not in a good way. As in .... "how can Ford ship something like that?" :eyebulge:

What I'm not seeing from many of you is your vehicle's build dates :doh:

 

[davidw76]

If you really believe your car is perfect, post high res pictures of the rear, showing the bumper, trunk lid, and rear glass, and of the front, showing where the hood meets the fenders and where the bumper meats the fenders. If I can't find something visibly out of alignment I promise I'll delete my account.

I will wash the car tomorrow morning and take pics. No need to delete your account.

I have seen photos on this site of the misaligned panels and they are STUNNING and not in a good way. As in .... "how can Ford ship something like that?" :eyebulge:

What I'm not seeing from many of you is your vehicle's build dates :doh:

Mine was built in February, but I have seen March/April built cars on the lot with the same issues, and you can see some of them in the pics coming out of 2016 models.

Anyway, I am happy that your car doesn't have these problems. Sorry for getting a bit annoyed earlier.

 

[Blaster]

Sorry for getting a bit annoyed earlier.

Completely understandable.

Who in this year 2015 would expect misaligned body panels on a vehicle sold in the USA.

 

[PonyGrrrl]

If you really believe your car is perfect, post high res pictures of the rear, showing the bumper, trunk lid, and rear glass, and of the front, showing where the hood meets the fenders and where the bumper meats the fenders. If I can't find something visibly out of alignment I promise I'll delete my account.

I will wash the car tomorrow morning and take pics. No need to delete your account.

I have seen photos on this site of the misaligned panels and they are STUNNING and not in a good way. As in .... "how can Ford ship something like that?" :eyebulge:

What I'm not seeing from many of you is your vehicle's build dates :doh:

Mine was built January 9.

 

[SoCalMustang21]

Thanks all for the feedback.
I plan to visit one of the local ford dealerships this weekend to check out a few on the lot.

 

[turtleboy]

I just picked up my car today and the gaps were not perfect, but nothing I am going to become OCD over. They are there but only noticeable if you really look. I'm just enjoying driving the car for now! :-)

 

[clevernickname]

Hi, I don't really want to read through 39 pages...so hopefully i can post this here and someone can tell me if I have a case?

Noticed the alignment of my rear driver side panel seems a bit off

and in this one you can see a small scratch, and i have no idea how it got there...

So, is this something ford would take care of? Or is this not an alignment issue. I have no idea how that scratch got there though...so really hope ford can fix this.

 

[Zodiac]

Hi, I don't really want to read through 39 pages...so hopefully i can post this here and someone can tell me if I have a case?

Noticed the alignment of my rear driver side panel seems a bit off

and in this one you can see a small scratch, and i have no idea how it got there...

So, is this something ford would take care of? Or is this not an alignment issue. I have no idea how that scratch got there though...so really hope ford can fix this.

I have the exact same thing on my car. Bringing it to dealer this week.

 

[Papaya]

Brackets

The problems you guys have with the bumper? The brackets can't hold the bumper on the quarter panels or front fenders. My body shop people said that the brackets gaps are too big and they can't guaranty that the fender won't pop out if the weather gets warmer here in Edmonton. I had actually go around every morning and give a push on all 4 corners before I left the house.
BTW. Look at that:
http://www.kentwoodford.com/inventory/listing/2015-ford-mustang-edmonton-alberta/5391753 :first:

And yes. That's my "old" EB Mustang No idea if someone would pay that much for it.:tsk:

 

[davidw76]

You definitely have a case.

Your trunk lid is also misaligned but you might want to just live with that one, assuming it isn't rubbing/hitting the fenders or bumper when you open it.

Mine was and I had Ford fix it. Yesterday when washing the car, I noticed the back of the car is covered in tiny scratches and some larger ones where they worked on it and were opening/closing the trunk lid, there's even a very small chip in the paint on the bumper.

It's a black car so every little thing is obvious but still.. you would expect a pro body shop to know how to avoid this. I'm not taking it back again though.. they would only make it even worse.

Sponsored