Ford Rough: Everything Wrong at Ford Right Now
Executive Chair Bill Ford recently expressed “confidence” in CEO Jim Farley. That means things in Dearborn are dire.
Right now should be a great time for the Blue Oval. Back in 2018, the company streamlined its stable, and culled its lineup of unprofitable cars. Then, the long-awaited Bronco debuted to near-hysterical acclaim, and as demand has shown, even branding an all-electric crossover as a Mustang didn’t blow up in its face.
But it is not a great time for Ford. Because Ford simply can’t stop screwing up.
To illustrate just how bad things are, Executive Chair Bill Ford recently told our friends at Automotive News that “he still has full confidence” that CEO Jim Farley is the right guy to steer the ship. Now, for those not familiar with American corporate speak? A vote of confidence isn’t the kind of thing that’s voiced when things are going well. It’s something that’s said when a company is on its heels, and comes with all the dark foreshadowing of a Best New Artist Grammy.
So what exactly is wrong? Well, it’s all about quality. For the second year in a row, Ford has led its domestic competition in regard to recalls — and the problems are severe.
- The wheels are falling off Broncos with 37-inch tires because the lugnuts weren’t torqued properly.
- The finish on Bronco hardtops is already peeling, and the airbag sensors were installed wrong too.
The Mach-E was eating its rear axle shafts - A Lightning burned to the ground in a staging lot, which caused a full production stop.
- Currently, the Bronco, Mustang, Explorer, and F-150 are also facing a recall, because their ten-speed automatics could allow them to roll away when they’re placed in park.
- 100,000 Rangers are facing an airbag recall… for the second time.
- And brand new Raptor Rs are already leaking oil (although this may not be a widespread issue).
When Ford’s ship will stop taking on water is anyone’s guess. Although they are making moves to improve quality control and ramp up production for popular models. But the one thing that’s for sure is that something is rotten in Dearborn, and unless something changes quickly, the upcoming Mustang launch might very well prove a disaster.
Photos: Michael S. Palmer, Ford
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