Ford Canada is attempting to right itself in the eyes of the owner of a 2009 Ford F-150 SuperCrew and those who pay attention to Canadian media, after the truck owner in-question – one Mr. Paul Rubner, Detective with the Calgary Police Service – was left without the parts to fix his F-Series pickup.
According to The Truth About Cars, the HVAC system on Mr. Rubner’s Ford F-150 went on the fritz recently, blowing cold air on the drivers side of the cabin while piping intolerably hot air to the passengers side. Like any sensible owner might do, Mr. Rubner sought out the broken HVAC module from his local Ford dealer, only to be told that the part was “obsolete and not available.” Upon contacting Ford Canada, the owner was told of a number of other companies which might stock the part, but his search came up dry again.
“If you are not able to locate the part through these companies then there is nothing further that Ford of Canada can do for you,” allegedly read the automaker’s email to Rubner.
The issue, according to TTAC, is that the part is unique to V8-powered Ford F-150 models with dual-zone climate control and heated mirrors, seats, and rear windows, but with the seat coolers deleted. Mr. Rubner, it seems, just happened to select the wrong configuration for his Ford F-150.
After being told that he would not be able to source the part required to repair his 2009 Ford F-150, Mr. Rubner reached out to the CBC. He told the outlet “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a vehicle to last ten, twelve, fifteen years. Not seven.” George Iny, Director of the Canadian Automobile Protection Association echoed the sentiment, saying that “it’s not acceptable… for the largest-sold vehicle in the country to be an orphan or stranded, because a certain component can’t be sourced anymore.”
Fortunately, the story gained enough traction that Ford Canada has gone against its earlier statement that “there is nothing further [they] can do.” TTAC reports that the automaker has arranged for a supplier to custom-build an HVAC module specifically for Mr. Rubner’s 2009 Ford F-150.
We just have to hope that the fix sticks for a good, long while; otherwise, it’s a repair option we don’t imagine Paul Rubner having again.
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