Power failure on 2014 Roush Raptor (and nothing from Ford)

Maintenance/Repairs
1

I got a brand new 590 HP Ford F150 Raptor with the Roush Supercharger. The car’s electronics have completely shut down twice (first at about 800 miles and again at 2500 miles). I called the dealer the first time it happened and they said i must have bumped the key. I figured it could have been a fluke, but then it happened again so the car is no longer safe to drive.

I’ve taken it into the dealer twice and they can’t find anything wrong with it unless i can recreate the problem for them. Obviously if it happens once every 1000 miles, that is tough to do. The only common theme was that it happened both times while slowing down and turning left.

I’ve given up on having Ford help, so i’m about to just replace the ignition on my own dime. If i didn’t put $25k into it already, i’d just make the dealer take it back under lemon laws.

Any thoughts or advice?

2

What did you put on it worth $25,000? Hopefully nothing that voids the factory warranty or interfering with the ignition. I would call Ford USA and talk to a corporate person to let them know your problem. Maybe they’ve had more complaints about the situation. I’ve done that before and they’ve been very helpful.
Good luck

3

“I’ve given up on having Ford help, so i’m about to just replace the ignition on my own dime. If i didn’t put $25k into it already, i’d just make the dealer take it back under lemon laws.”

A few thoughts (and questions)…

Exactly what did you spend $25k on?
I hope that you did not do any modifications that might have compromised the warranty.
Can you clarify exactly what you did that cost $25k after you bought the vehicle?

When you say that you’ve “given up on having Ford help”, I assume that you mean the Ford dealership, as you made no mention of having contacted anyone at the corporate level. If my assumption is correct, you need to open your Owner’s Manual, find the contact information for Ford’s Customer Assistance department (or whatever they are calling that part of their organization at this point) and make contact with them.

First, initiate contact via a totally non-emotional, totally factual phone call.
Then, follow up your phone contact with a well-worded, non-emotional letter informing them of your dissatisfaction with the vehicle, and requesting the intervention of the Zone Manager.

I would advise you to NOT replace “the ignition” (presumably the ignition switch), as that will only complicate matters. Ford should be the only entity that is working on your vehicle at this point.

And, the Lemon Laws actually don’t have anything to do with “the dealer taking it back”, as the vehicle’s manufacturer is the party that designed, manufactured, and warrantied the vehicle. Typically, these statutes require that you give the dealership 3 tries at rectifying a defect before you can file a Lemon Law claim, but this will vary somewhat from state to state, and if you haven’t yet had it in the dealer’s shop for a repair attempt, then the clock isn’t even ticking yet on a possible Lemon Law claim.

So, begin by contacting Ford at the corporate level, drop your car off at the dealership so that you have the first (of 3) repair visits under your belt, and additionally start doing research on your state’s Lemon Law. If there are 3 documented unsuccessful repair attempts, you should (depending on the statute in your state) be able to get a new replacement vehicle, or receive a full refund of your original purchase price.

4

I would also call Roush and inform them of the situation. They don’t want their good name associated with a safety hazard. Keep all documentation and make sure each time it’s taken in that it states the same problem. Look up your Lemon Law and follow it to a tee. Contact your Ford area rep. Keep going, it’s your money.

5

We need a complete description of what was in that $25,000 that you’ve sunk into it. I’d also like to know if that money was spent on having the dealer do stuff to it or modifications were made by yourself or some other source.

If everything that was done was Ford authorized and performed by the dealer, they’re on the hook, and anything you try to do or have done elsewhere (other than another Ford dealer… which might be an idea) will let them completely off the hook. You’ll need to follow the protocols outlined in your owner’s manual for involving higher level Ford representatives, keep all records, and investigate your state’s “lemon laws” if you have them. Your state’s attorney general’s office should be able to help you with that.

If you had modifications made elsewhere or made them yourself, they’re probably off the hook anyway.

6

Roush is tied up in a major league way with Ford and everything Roush does is quality; along with big bucks.
I believe the Roush mods are done under the auspices of FOMOCO and the truck along with the mods get the full factory warranty.

Just some food for thought here. I can’t picture in the mind’s eye what the fuel tank looks like so I’m theorizing. What side is the fuel pump located on? Just wondering if the fuel level was down a bit and if the pump is on the left side of the tank then a left turn could create fuel slosh away from the fuel pump pickup. This should show up as a severe stumble before dying instead of a shutdown in which everything just goes dead instantly.

I agree with mountainbike that you should not replace or tamper with anything on that truck. You need to contact Ford customer service and drag them into it; or at least try to. They may tell you to take it to the same dealer who has had it twice but I’d say push this a bit further up the chain.

Just curious, but did you get copies of the repair order on those visits which stated the complaint and what if anything was done to resolve it? If push comes to shove you MUST have documentation and make sure the complaint is identical or close to it.

7

If the modifications are Ford sanctioned then they are covered and this can be lemon lawed. If you spent money changing it up then yes your dime. The cliche adage of you got to pay to play rings true.

I am hoping you resolve this through Ford. You have a specialty vehicle that likely is not as well documented for Ford tech to work on.

8

Thanks for all the feedback. Most of the cost was the Roush upgrades (exhaust/supercharger). i also put in new bumpers and chase rack (from Addictive Desert Designs). All work was done by ford dealer.

Before i do anything on the ignition, i’ll call Roush (hadn’t thought of that) and see if they have thoughts.

I’ve taken it to 2 ford dealers already. Neither gave a repair order showing what they did. They both took it on a short ride and hooked it up to the diagnostic computer and saw no issues. The second ford dealer said they also brought in a specialist (no clue what that means) and he/she also didn’t see any issue.

9

If Roush has any thoughts on the matter, perhaps you could ask them to forward them to you in an email, print it, and bring a copy with you to the Ford dealer. The dealer is 100% responsible, but maybe they’ve just not smart enough to get in touch with Roush themselves. Or maybe they’re not allowed to.

10

Also, good point about the fuel pump, but i doubt that is it. It died very suddenly, not a sputter. Both times it died i was going about 30mph and was slowing down to turn (once left, once right).
Someone mentioned that lose wiring could be the culprit, but i assume that Ford would have seen that (and if that was the case, it would happen more than 2x in 2200 miles).

11

Having only happened a couple of times…it sounds as if, maybe,it’s a rare left turn , like a sharp turn, full steering wheel turn to lock perhaps that causes a particular stress to something…like yanking on a wiring harness for a second.

  • there is a know issue on some Taurus…es ( Tauri ? ) …Taurus’ . At full lock left turn the engine kind of leans a bit and grounds out a cable at the under-hood fuse box.

— I put out a question on the dealer chat room asking techs nationwide if they know of this issue ---- I’ll let youall know if I hear back.

But your dealer tech should already have put your truck up on a hoist with one inside working the steering and others under it looking to see what stresses are created when steeing left. Watching for harness yanks and ground outs.