Jump to content

Ford: Difference between revisions

From Consumer Rights Wiki
No edit summary
Vindicator4021 (talk | contribs)
Edited for grammar, tone, and clarity.
 
(31 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Under_Development}}
{{ToneWarning}}


----
{{InfoboxCompany
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.
| Name = Ford
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1903
| Industry = Automotive
| Official Website = https://ford.com/
| Logo = Ford.png
}}
The '''[[Wikipedia:Ford Motor Company|Ford Motor Company]]''' was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan. With the introduction of a moving assembly line, Ford drastically reduced the cost and time of automobile production, making cars affordable for the masses and transforming industrial production globally. It is one of the oldest and largest automobile manufacturers, one of the "Big Three" American automakers, alongside General Motors (GM) and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler).<!-- In general, keep this bio as a basic background about the company -->


=== Anti-Consumer Practices ===
==Consumer protection summary<!-- Needs more of the summary filled in, check https://wiki.rossmanngroup.com/wiki/Consumer_Action_Taskforce:Sample/Company for details -->==
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.


====Privacy====


*Collects sensitive personal information from multiple sources, including data from the vehicle itself, data from the connected mobile app, and data obtained during the vehicle's purchase.<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 data, contact information, identifiers (e.g., VIN, account ID), user-generated content (e.g., voice recordings from smart features), search and browsing history for advertising purposes, usage data, sensitive information (under "Inferences"), diagnostics, and more.<ref name=":0" />
*Aggregates data from external sources as well, including users' social media posts.<ref name=":0" />
*Privacy policy is designed to prevent quickly searching for important terms.<ref>https://www.ford.com/help/privacy/ Ford Privacy Policy</ref>
*It is unclear how long data is retained.<ref name=":0" />
*According to CCPA Metrics from 2023, 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>


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>.
==Anti-consumer practices==


===Patents regarding consumer data===
Ford has obtained patents for systems unrelated to the primary functions of driving that can collect data on the consumer. One patented system can [[Ford ad patent|serve advertisements]] based on the driver's conversations,<ref>https://therecord.media/ford-patent-application-in-vehicle-listening-advertising</ref> while another patented system pertaining to vehicle [[Ford Repossession Patent|repossession]] enables the restricting access to vehicles (e.g. if their owners have missed car payments).<ref name=":1">https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/03/ford-files-patent-for-system-that-could-remotely-repossess-a-car/</ref> Ford has responded to the controversy surrounding these patents by stating that possessing these patents is not necessarily an indication of new product plans. <ref name=":1" /> However, the development of such systems may negatively impact consumers' overall trust in the company, and lead them to be more wary of accepting sales terms.


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.
===Engineering practices===
Various Ford models' engine designs use a rubber belt, rather than a metal chain, to transmit power to the engine's oil pump. This belt operates submerged in the crankcase engine oil, and can degrade and fail prematurely, potentially causing a sudden loss of vehicle oil pressure.<ref>https://garagewire.co.uk/news/bbc-watchdog-ford-ecoboost-wet-belt-problem/</ref> Ford has also knowingly released transmission systems in the Fiesta and Focus models that have had multiple issues: 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> A Ford user has also reported that a software update resulted in their vehicle being rendered unusable ("bricked").<ref>https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/automatic-software-update-bricked-my-truck.96624/</ref>


==== Footnote from the author ====
Ford has a notable history of manufacturing 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> This may be partially attributable to Ford's large market share; a large amount of recalls is not uncommon for large companies. However, it may also indicate that Ford doesn't meet the production quality of other manufacturers.
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==
<references />
[[Category:Ford]]

Latest revision as of 21:01, 30 June 2025

Article Status Notice: Unacceptable Tone/Word Usage

This article needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Specifically it uses wording throughout that is non-compliant with the Editorial guidelines of this wiki.

Learn more ▼

Ford
Basic information
Founded 1903
Type Public
Industry Automotive
Official website https://ford.com/

The Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan. With the introduction of a moving assembly line, Ford drastically reduced the cost and time of automobile production, making cars affordable for the masses and transforming industrial production globally. It is one of the oldest and largest automobile manufacturers, one of the "Big Three" American automakers, alongside General Motors (GM) and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler).

Consumer protection summary[edit | edit source]

Privacy[edit | edit source]

  • Collects sensitive personal information from multiple sources, including data from the vehicle itself, data from the connected mobile app, and data obtained during the vehicle's purchase.[1]
  • Data collected includes purchase history, financial information, coarse and precise location data, contact information, identifiers (e.g., VIN, account ID), user-generated content (e.g., voice recordings from smart features), search and browsing history for advertising purposes, usage data, sensitive information (under "Inferences"), diagnostics, and more.[1]
  • Aggregates data from external sources as well, including users' social media posts.[1]
  • Privacy policy is designed to prevent quickly searching for important terms.[2]
  • It is unclear how long data is retained.[1]
  • According to CCPA Metrics from 2023, there were 96 requests for data to be deleted, and 7 of these requests were denied.[3]

Anti-consumer practices[edit | edit source]

Patents regarding consumer data[edit | edit source]

Ford has obtained patents for systems unrelated to the primary functions of driving that can collect data on the consumer. One patented system can serve advertisements based on the driver's conversations,[4] while another patented system pertaining to vehicle repossession enables the restricting access to vehicles (e.g. if their owners have missed car payments).[5] Ford has responded to the controversy surrounding these patents by stating that possessing these patents is not necessarily an indication of new product plans. [5] However, the development of such systems may negatively impact consumers' overall trust in the company, and lead them to be more wary of accepting sales terms.

Engineering practices[edit | edit source]

Various Ford models' engine designs use a rubber belt, rather than a metal chain, to transmit power to the engine's oil pump. This belt operates submerged in the crankcase engine oil, and can degrade and fail prematurely, potentially causing a sudden loss of vehicle oil pressure.[6] Ford has also knowingly released transmission systems in the Fiesta and Focus models that have had multiple issues: 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.[7] A Ford user has also reported that a software update resulted in their vehicle being rendered unusable ("bricked").[8]

Ford has a notable history of manufacturing America's most recalled vehicles, setting the record for most recalls issued in 2021, 2022, and 2023.[9] This may be partially attributable to Ford's large market share; a large amount of recalls is not uncommon for large companies. However, it may also indicate that Ford doesn't meet the production quality of other manufacturers.

References[edit | edit source]