FL 2087 update (interesting information)

[JeremyPro5.0]

Honestly, someone needs to step up and take one for the team and have an attorney issue notice (on letterhead). Ford isn't going to change guidance until that happens. Why would they? Would you if you ran a business? We don't know what sort of licensing or exclusivity is in place with motorcraft or the supplier. I'm sure Ford is content to let everyone stew right up until the point that it's going to potentially cost them some money (and hope the market just resolves the issue with supply relief).

Hell, even if it's not as conspiracist as that, it could be that Ford is a giant company and the person who could make the call on issuing revised guidance has a zillion things on their plate and just doesn't GAF about this lowly filter issue for 500s/350's. Any legal action toward FOMOCO would end up on their counsel's desk who might be able to raise the issue to "do something" instead of it sitting at the bottom of the "someday" pile.

A class action lawsuit would be the way to go but a bunch of people need to kick in some money to get that ball rolling. I would bet to get it off the ground a group would have to come up with at least $50-75K to fund initial legal action.

Problem is, the supply chain will more than likely catch back up and deliver these filters prior to any court even thinking about scheduling this type of suit.

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[Davesvt2000]

For those of you in the warmer areas, try searching at dealerships in the northern states where the GT350s/GT500s are sleeping for a few more months. Those dealers will be less apt to hold onto their filters for oil changes and more willing to sell their stock.... at least until we get closer to the cars coming out of hibernation.

doesn’t matter.
central Massachusetts here, called and emailed, searched dealers within a 50 mile radius, no luck.

 

[Angrey]

A class action lawsuit would be the way to go but a bunch of people need to kick in some money to get that ball rolling. I would bet to get it off the ground a group would have to come up with at least $50-75K to fund initial legal action.

Problem is, the supply chain will more than likely catch back up and deliver these filters prior to any court even thinking about scheduling this type of suit.

Not necessarily. The first person who blows a motor and has a warranty issue over it can sue and if it's not resolved by then, Ford (recognizing that it may expose them further with others) would then issue alternatives as guidance.

And a simple threat letter doesn't cost $75k. It doesn't have to be (and rarely starts) as a class action, most issues start with a bunch of individuals who then either recognize the opportunity to merge as a class or the court deems it public interest not to clog up the system with a zillion disparate cases all covering the same substantial issue.

Point being, Ford probably won't twitch until internally, someone makes a big deal of it or externally they feel pressure to act before exposing themselves to legal recourse. And like I said, it may be as innocent as the person who could say "give em an alternate" is so busy that it's just not high on their priority list.

 

[460Fred]

If the supply chain is broken for these filters, tell me how Ford with all its wisdom and influence can change that.
I don’t care who you are, you cannot make those who cannot produce suddenly deliver product.
I don’t think any of us know the “why” here. If you do, enlighten us please.
There are thousands of businesses worldwide with the same issues.
One of the only things Ford can do at this point is approve an alternate which may take a while.
As soon as the approval happens for an alternate, I’ll guarantee you they’ll sell out very quickly. No such thing as an unlimited supply today.

 

[DopamineQuest]

Another data point. Checked the 5 local dealers to me on parts.ford.com, one of them said they had one in stock rdy for pickup, and lo and behold they did have one!

 

[Angrey]

If the supply chain is broken for these filters, tell me how Ford with all its wisdom and influence can change that.
I don’t care who you are, you cannot make those who cannot produce suddenly deliver product.
I don’t think any of us know the “why” here. If you do, enlighten us please.
There are thousands of businesses worldwide with the same issues.
One of the only things Ford can do at this point is approve an alternate which may take a while.
As soon as the approval happens for an alternate, I’ll guarantee you they’ll sell out very quickly. No such thing as an unlimited supply today.

No one is asking for something that's impossible. They're simply asking that Ford have even the slightest shred of customer service and recognize that there is the supply issue you described and issue guidance that TEMPRORARILY an alternate filter be acceptable (and warrantable) for use until the FL2087 becomes widely available again.

Ford could issue a bulletin that updates the filter guidance (with a set expiry) to either retro back to the 2062/A or specify the aftermarket of their choice (there's nearly a dozen) that would get everyone by until the FL2087 becomes available again.

 

[stanglife]

Tag @themikedean on IG - from what I can tell he's in engineering there ;)

 

[460Fred]

No one is asking for something that's impossible. They're simply asking that Ford have even the slightest shred of customer service and recognize that there is the supply issue you described and issue guidance that TEMPRORARILY an alternate filter be acceptable (and warrantable) for use until the FL2087 becomes widely available again.

Ford could issue a bulletin that updates the filter guidance (with a set expiry) to either retro back to the 2062/A or specify the aftermarket of their choice (there's nearly a dozen) that would get everyone by until the FL2087 becomes available again.

In no way will Ford ”approve” an alternate before doing complete R&D and have some control over production.
Why this has become an issue is beyond me.
Ford absolutely has dropped the ball here with customer no-service. A bulletin should have already been sent to all known owners.

 

[stanglife]

What's going to impact them is "if" the news gets ahold of information that Ford is selling cars that you cant buy oil filters for.

 

[JAJ]

Ya know... I don't have a dog in this hunt because my GT350 takes the original spin-on filter, BUT, if I was in the situation you're in, I'd do an oil change and leave the filter in place for an extra month or two until they're available again. You lose a bit of oil changing just the filter, but not much, and most filters that come out are in pretty good shape. I'd rather do that than use a different filter, Motorcraft or otherwise.

 

[moby4dick]

Welp, I gave this a shot and just placed my order. Signed up with an account for free shipping, so let’s see if I get 2 filters via FedEx.

Nope, got the cancellation notice Monday morning….did notice that the air filters showed 15 day shipping. Air filters the next on the list of unavailable items? At least there are alternatives.

 

[Angrey]

Ya know... I don't have a dog in this hunt because my GT350 takes the original spin-on filter, BUT, if I was in the situation you're in, I'd do an oil change and leave the filter in place for an extra month or two until they're available again. You lose a bit of oil changing just the filter, but not much, and most filters that come out are in pretty good shape. I'd rather do that than use a different filter, Motorcraft or otherwise.

I spent the money on my 16 to "upgrade" to the new cartridge housing. I kept my old housing and one would think swapping back would be an option, but given that I had to rape my harness to the new sensor/plug (because, OEM engineers ought to die of Syphilis for stupid compatibility changes like this) going back now is probably going to involve some sort of frankenstein bridges in the old sensor connector, I'll probably stick it out until it gets to be too problematic.

Honestly, a worm clamp on the canister style to keep it from back spinning was an easy solution against the dreaded loose filter issue.

 

[Tomster]

A class action lawsuit would be the way to go but a bunch of people need to kick in some money to get that ball rolling. I would bet to get it off the ground a group would have to come up with at least $50-75K to fund initial legal action.

Problem is, the supply chain will more than likely catch back up and deliver these filters prior to any court even thinking about scheduling this type of suit.

What are your damages? No damages.... no lawsuit.

 

[Angrey]

What are your damages? No damages.... no lawsuit.

One could make an argument (weak) that if there are no filters available and if Ford dealers aren't able to service (at normal rates) then the new filter requirement has changed the terms and conditions of the sale and harmed the property owner by costing them more to use their property or precluded them from using it (or facing the decision to knowingly deviate from the specification).

Ford would argue that they had to make the change due to latent discovered risks against the cost of warranty (and potential damage to the motor) and they have no control over market conditions for component or material supplies.

Again, it wouldn't ever see any of that if they just TEMPORARILY authorized an alternate and revisited the issue when FL2087's are available again. The whole idea wouldn't be to recover damages but to compel reasonable settlement (aka declaring a temp alternate).

 

[Tomster]

One could make an argument (weak) that if there are no filters available and if Ford dealers aren't able to service (at normal rates) then the new filter requirement has changed the terms and conditions of the sale and harmed the property owner by costing them more to use their property or precluded them from using it (or facing the decision to knowingly deviate from the specification).

Ford would argue that they had to make the change due to latent discovered risks against the cost of warranty (and potential damage to the motor) and they have no control over market conditions for component or material supplies.

Again, it wouldn't ever see any of that if they just TEMPORARILY authorized an alternate and revisited the issue when FL2087's are available again. The whole idea wouldn't be to recover damages but to compel reasonable settlement (aka declaring a temp alternate).

Someone would have to pop an engine, have a warranty claim denied based on an aftermarket filter, reference Ford documents and memos, and then maybe there would be a case. So far, all Ford has done is not maintain the supply chain for needed parts. No damage, no lawsuit.

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