Cobra is sick

[Coy]

I am new to this forum. last week I took my new 04 Cobra with 1,000 miles to a ford house for a popping noise to the rear end. When the guys put it up on the rack, I observed that the underneath was severely corroded and rusted. The stainless steel exhaust system is brown through-out with rust. Bolts.nuts, pulleys, clips, are pitted bad. One bolt you could not even put a wrench on the is so rounded off. I have not run over anything and only have had it for two months. I am still waiting for a phone call from the local ford rep. I suggest that you folks take a look under your Cobra's. Mine could be the only one,but may not be. Looking for suggestions.

[venomous]

Sorry to hear about that man. That really sucks. Are you up in one of the northern states that snows alot. Rust is frequent under cars that are driven on snowy, salty roads. Maybe this was the problem?

[Coy]

Negative, even the guys over at my local ford house are astounded, they say that they have never seen anything like this. I live in south central US, we barely even get any snow,the roads are not salted down. It almost looks as if the bottom of the car was sitting somwhere saly water though. You cannot see the damage by looking though the engine compartment.

Originally Posted by Coy

I am new to this forum. last week I took my new 04 Cobra with 1,000 miles to a ford house for a popping noise to the rear end. When the guys put it up on the rack, I observed that the underneath was severely corroded and rusted. The stainless steel exhaust system is brown through-out with rust. Bolts.nuts, pulleys, clips, are pitted bad. One bolt you could not even put a wrench on the is so rounded off. I have not run over anything and only have had it for two months. I am still waiting for a phone call from the local ford rep. I suggest that you folks take a look under your Cobra's. Mine could be the only one,but may not be. Looking for suggestions.

[Firme]

Coy, welcome to the board, and hope to see you around more often.

Sorry to hear about your problem. That happened to a local guy here in Houston. He was lucky enough to have discovered the rust 3 days after getting the car home. His radiator bracket had almost rusted all the way through. He took it back to the dealer expecting to get the run around, but instead, they looked at it, hudled up and came back and told him to pick another 04 off of the lot, as easy as that. I hope they are as kind with a 2 month old car.

Get them to find the history of the car. I think the local guy did, and they found that the car had sat in some lot up north for a while, which they figured was the cause since car's don't really rust in houston.

You technically have a warranty on paint defect. If they say sorry, then say "Fix it under warranty" and they may rethink their answer.

[Coy]

Thanks Firme, for replying. I actually live in Kerrville just west of San Antonio where I purchased the car. I think that I am getting the run around. It will be a week since Northside Ford looked at my car. I guess I may have to call Ford direct and start complaining. Northside, said that they would get the Ford representative to call me. Now here it is a week now and no call. I am sure the guys at ford would have offered me a new car, but guess not. I really don't want it fixed. The damage is very bad, they would have to completely redue the everything under the car and then some. Meanwhile, I am still making car payments.

Originally Posted by Firme

Coy, welcome to the board, and hope to see you around more often.

Sorry to hear about your problem. That happened to a local guy here in Houston. He was lucky enough to have discovered the rust 3 days after getting the car home. His radiator bracket had almost rusted all the way through. He took it back to the dealer expecting to get the run around, but instead, they looked at it, hudled up and came back and told him to pick another 04 off of the lot, as easy as that. I hope they are as kind with a 2 month old car.

Get them to find the history of the car. I think the local guy did, and they found that the car had sat in some lot up north for a while, which they figured was the cause since car's don't really rust in houston.

You technically have a warranty on paint defect. If they say sorry, then say "Fix it under warranty" and they may rethink their answer.

[Firme]

Coy

call:

Phone: 800-392-3673

Hours of Operation:
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET. (Monday-Friday)
9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET. (Saturday)

That should be ford Customer care. File a complaint on the car and the dealerships handling of the matter if they are giving you the run around. This SHOULD light a fire under someone. It has helped me before, hope it helps you.

[Big Will]

Same thing with my 04 cobra! The rust on the exhaust pipes right after the stainless steel tips look like years of exposure.A seal in the gas tank failed, the check engine light can on and stayed on, not to mention every morning the belts sound like there are a hundred canarys living under my hood. But when I step on the gas pedal,oooooooooo baby!!!!!!!

[Coy]

Firme,

I did what you said. I called the 1-800 number. Customer service said that I will be recieving a phone call in about three days from the Ford Rep. With a location to meet. They said the Ford Rep. was out sick. I will let you know what his answer to me will be. I am still skeptical though.
Thanks.

Originally Posted by Firme

Coy

call:

Phone: 800-392-3673

Hours of Operation:
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET. (Monday-Friday)
9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET. (Saturday)

That should be ford Customer care. File a complaint on the car and the dealerships handling of the matter if they are giving you the run around. This SHOULD light a fire under someone. It has helped me before, hope it helps you.

[Firme]

Originally Posted by Coy

I will let you know what his answer to me will be. I am still skeptical though.
Thanks.

Good luck man, its a start.

[Coy]

Originally Posted by Firme

Good luck man, its a start.

Firme,

Well, it has been a while since I last replied. But, I did not have any news on my 2004 Cobra. I recieved a phone call today stating that I will have my car replaced with a brand new one. All I have to do is sign on the bootom line (again) and what color I want. I will get the final details on Thursday as far as a pick up date. I have since learned that their have been several more 2004 Cobra's in far worse shape than mine. It's a shame that this has occurred to such fine supercars.
Thanks for your advise.
Coy

[cobracrazy]

That is really strange. I am glad you will get a good result out of Ford. Let us know if you ever find out what the deal is.

[Firme]

Glad to know they are replacing the vehicle. If I had to guess, there was a probably a batch that sat at some shipping yard or area that had something that caused this.

Good luck with the new one Coy, and hope you have much better luck with it. Just give this one a real good inspection. Hope you decide the club also as our member base is starting to grow in San Antonio, and hopefully you guys can get together and have a bunch of SCMC events there.

[MikeyC]

Coy


Just bought an '04 vert 2 weeks ago and am on my way to the garage to crawl under it. Getting a lot of noise during shifting - 'clunks' in the rear end area.

My sister lives in Kerrville - I think the area is called River Hills. Her name is Wanda Kemp Maxson. Used to be involved in selling real estate in River Hills. Pretty much retired now.

I live in Pinehurst, NC and the dealer got the Cobra from another one here in NC. Hope I don't find the same rust problem you had. Sounds like from a later message that they plan on replacing it. Too bad you had to go through the pain with a brand new car. Picking up a new one is one of the great pleasures of mankind.

Mike Critzer
2004 Redfire Cobra Convertable

Originally Posted by Coy

I am new to this forum. last week I took my new 04 Cobra with 1,000 miles to a ford house for a popping noise to the rear end. When the guys put it up on the rack, I observed that the underneath was severely corroded and rusted. The stainless steel exhaust system is brown through-out with rust. Bolts.nuts, pulleys, clips, are pitted bad. One bolt you could not even put a wrench on the is so rounded off. I have not run over anything and only have had it for two months. I am still waiting for a phone call from the local ford rep. I suggest that you folks take a look under your Cobra's. Mine could be the only one,but may not be. Looking for suggestions.

[MikeyC]

Coy


Me again. Just got back from the garage and saw quite a bit of rust, especially on the exhaust system. Actually looked like on the the mufflers had holes in it!! Looked under my wife's 2003 Aviator and everything is as clean as can be and it has 15,000 miles on it. I'll be visiting my local Ford dealer on Thursday with blood in my eye. Talked to the guy who sold it to me and he had not heard anything about a rust problem with the new ones. Hope they as cooperative as your dealer, I get REAL passionate about my cars.

Mike

Originally Posted by Coy

I am new to this forum. last week I took my new 04 Cobra with 1,000 miles to a ford house for a popping noise to the rear end. When the guys put it up on the rack, I observed that the underneath was severely corroded and rusted. The stainless steel exhaust system is brown through-out with rust. Bolts.nuts, pulleys, clips, are pitted bad. One bolt you could not even put a wrench on the is so rounded off. I have not run over anything and only have had it for two months. I am still waiting for a phone call from the local ford rep. I suggest that you folks take a look under your Cobra's. Mine could be the only one,but may not be. Looking for suggestions.

[davelegguy]

It sounds like your cars underside was somehow splashed with acid. Salt takes a lot more time to eat that much metal.