Consumer_Action_Taskforce

Ford: Difference between revisions

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{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Ford
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1903
| Industry = Automotive
| Official Website = https://ford.com/
| Logo = Ford.png
}}
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Henry Ford made the first patent Ford automobile, the quadricycle in 1896. He then actually incorporated the Ford motor company in 1903. They're now a company known pretty well for anti-consumer behaviour, and automotive-typical practices like marked up parts sharing that probably started in the late 1990's.
'''[[Wikipedia:Ford Motor Company|Ford Motor Company]]''', commonly known as '''Ford''', is an American multinational automobile-manufactoring company. Founded by Henry Ford in 1903, who made the first patent Ford automobile (the quadricycle) in 1896, the company is now known for anti-consumer practices, such as marked-up parts sharing that probably started in the late 1990's.<!-- In general, keep this bio as a basic background about the company -->
 
==Consumer protection summary<!-- Needs more of the summary filled in, check https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/Consumer_Action_Taskforce:Sample/Company for details -->==


=== Anti-Consumer Practices ===
====Privacy====
Ford have been known recently for being the maker of America's most recalled vehicles. CEO Jim Farley recently said "no more recalls", and at least in Europe, that's been enforced by selling engines that break themselves and sometimes catch fire doing it, with the only recall being to fix the fire part. Ford have filed dangerous patents and have managed to find a way in the 2020's to make a software update go so wrong it bricks a vehicle.


*Collects an enormous amount of sensitive personal information from many sources, including data from the vehicle, data from the connected app, and data from purchasing the vehicle.<ref name=":0">https://www.ford.com/help/privacy/#USprivacynotice Ford US Privacy Notice</ref>
*Data collected includes purchase history, financial information, coarse and precise location, contact information, identifiers (like VIN, account ID), user content (like voice recordings when you use smart features), search and browsing history for advertising, usage data, sensitive information (under "Inferences"), diagnostics, and more.<ref name=":0" />
*Aggregates data from external sources as well, including things you post to social media.<ref name=":0" />
*Unfriendly design of the privacy policy prevents searching for terms quickly.<ref>https://www.ford.com/help/privacy/ Ford Privacy Policy</ref>
*There is a lack of clarity in how long data is retained.<ref name=":0" />
*CCPA Metrics from 2023 show that there were 96 requests for data to be deleted, and 7 of these requests were denied.<ref>https://www.ford.com/help/privacy/#caPrivacy Ford California Notice At Collection And Privacy Disclosures</ref>


==Anti-consumer practices==


Ford also have made some, luckily not realised patents for systems like one that feeds ads to distract the driver of their automobiles<ref>https://therecord.media/ford-patent-application-in-vehicle-listening-advertising</ref>, and another patent for a system to annoy the owner of, restrict access to and then repossess or destroy vehicles where the owner "has defected" on finance payments<ref>https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/03/ford-files-patent-for-system-that-could-remotely-repossess-a-car/</ref>.
===Frequently recalled vehicles===
Ford has been known for being the maker of America's most recalled vehicles, setting the record for most recalls issued in 2021, 2022, and 2023.<ref>https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/NHTSA-Recalls-by-Manufacturer/38mw-dp8u/</ref> Ford has filed dangerous patents <!-- TODO: add examples --> and has issued a software update that ended up bricking a vehicle.<ref>https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/automatic-software-update-bricked-my-truck.96624/</ref>


===Forced advertising===
Ford has also obtained patents for systems like one that [[Ford ad patent|serves ads]] based on the driver's conversations,<ref>https://therecord.media/ford-patent-application-in-vehicle-listening-advertising</ref> and [[Ford Repossession Patent|another patent]] for a system to annoy the owner of, restrict access to and then repossess or destroy vehicles where the owner "has defected" on finance payments.<ref>https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/03/ford-files-patent-for-system-that-could-remotely-repossess-a-car/</ref>


Samcrac's 2024 video mini-series on his Aston Martin shows the pettiness and stupidity of either Ford or Aston Martin, but certainly Ford's design of needing a VIN-and-vehicle-specific "Car Configuration File" they (and now Aston Martin as its own corporate entity) only have control of to turn a Volvo C30's ECU into one for an exotic Aston Martin, is a bit ridiculous, and the fact Aston Martin wouldn't simply give Samcrac the simple file without attaching $15,000 in overpriced and completely unneeded repairs, is even worse.
===Bad engineering===
Ford's design and manufacturing practices ensure that the average consumer will end up with costly and potentially irreparable damage to critical engine components usually just out of the warranty period.{{Citation needed}} Various models and engine designs use a rubber belt rather than a metal chain to transmit power to the engine's oil pump. This belt which is submerged in the crankcase engine oil can prematurely degrade and cause a sudden loss of oil pressure. <ref>https://garagewire.co.uk/news/bbc-watchdog-ford-ecoboost-wet-belt-problem/</ref> Ford has also knowingly released a flawed transmission in the Fiesta and Focus models where the transmission can fail in a variety of ways; loss of forward power from a stop, loss of power when in top gear at constant speed, sudden unintended acceleration, and loss of power when the transmission is shifting between gears. <ref>https://www.freep.com/in-depth/money/cars/ford/2019/07/11/ford-focus-fiesta-transmission-defect/1671198001/</ref>


==== Footnote from the author ====
==References==
I live in the EU. Why does this company not understand we do not want more dropshipped Volkswagen ID4's carrying the nameplates of once actually good cars? There are two of those now (The "Capri" and "Explorer"), and something else that's very similar (the "Mustang" Mach-E). We don't want more shoddily designed compact SUV's made by another manufacturer, and it's proven competing with yourself is stupid and in the end, you won't win doing that.
<references />
[[Category:Ford]]
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