Ford Focus - track rod snapped - Advice Needed!
Discussion
Hi All.
Bit of a long post so bear with me please...
I'm writing this as my car (2018 Ford Focus) was recently recovered to a local Ford Dealership due to it becoming totally immobilised (no power, engine wouldn't start etc etc). At the moment this is believed to be due to an unsuccessful theft of the car (ie. the thieves tried to clone the keys but inadvertently damaged the cars electrics whilst doing so).
Anyway, as this happened on a Saturday evening the car was initially recovered back to my home address. In order to get it onto the recovery vehicle (as the electric handbrake was engaged and couldn't be disengaged) the car was dragged onto the recovery vehicle using a strap around the near front side drivers tyre and skid plates under all 4 tyres.
The nest day (Sunday morning), another recovery vehicle took the car from home address to a local Ford Dealership. Again, the car was dragged onto the recovery vehicle using a strap but this time around a rear wheel and with 4 skid plates under all 4 tyres.
A few days later, the Ford Dealership contacted me to say that whilst they were trying to diagnose the issue around the car being completely immobilised, they'd noticed the track rod to the near front side drivers tyre had completely snapped and needed to be replaced. They suggested this damaged had probably occurred whilst the car was being recovered to the Ford dealership.
I raised a complaint with the recovery company who (after a few weeks of investigation) have concluded that the damage to the track rod didn't occur during recovery of the vehicle and have provided photographic evidence which they state proves this to be the case. Photos as attached.
The recovery company have stated in their report that if the track rod had snapped during recovery, the casualty wheel would have been swinging freely, totally out of alignment and this would have been very obvious and visible. They also argue that the photos of the car (once it had been dropped off at the Ford dealer) show the front wheels in line, and therefore the track rod wouldn't have been snapped at this point.
I've been back in touch with the Ford Dealership, pointing out what the recovery vehicle company have stated and the Ford Dealership have basically thrown it back at the recovery company. The Ford dealer have said they used purpose built skates that they use for immobilised vehicles, which do not allow movement on any of the vehicle wheels. The skates were fitted to each wheel and vehicle pushed into the workshop by hand.
Based on the above and the attached photos it would be appreciated to get peoples thoughts as to whether the recovery company are trying to pull a fast one with my company, or do they have a valid point?
If the track rod was broken during recovery then would it have been very obvious prior to the car being dropped off at the Ford dealership?
Bit of a long post so bear with me please...
I'm writing this as my car (2018 Ford Focus) was recently recovered to a local Ford Dealership due to it becoming totally immobilised (no power, engine wouldn't start etc etc). At the moment this is believed to be due to an unsuccessful theft of the car (ie. the thieves tried to clone the keys but inadvertently damaged the cars electrics whilst doing so).
Anyway, as this happened on a Saturday evening the car was initially recovered back to my home address. In order to get it onto the recovery vehicle (as the electric handbrake was engaged and couldn't be disengaged) the car was dragged onto the recovery vehicle using a strap around the near front side drivers tyre and skid plates under all 4 tyres.
The nest day (Sunday morning), another recovery vehicle took the car from home address to a local Ford Dealership. Again, the car was dragged onto the recovery vehicle using a strap but this time around a rear wheel and with 4 skid plates under all 4 tyres.
A few days later, the Ford Dealership contacted me to say that whilst they were trying to diagnose the issue around the car being completely immobilised, they'd noticed the track rod to the near front side drivers tyre had completely snapped and needed to be replaced. They suggested this damaged had probably occurred whilst the car was being recovered to the Ford dealership.
I raised a complaint with the recovery company who (after a few weeks of investigation) have concluded that the damage to the track rod didn't occur during recovery of the vehicle and have provided photographic evidence which they state proves this to be the case. Photos as attached.
The recovery company have stated in their report that if the track rod had snapped during recovery, the casualty wheel would have been swinging freely, totally out of alignment and this would have been very obvious and visible. They also argue that the photos of the car (once it had been dropped off at the Ford dealer) show the front wheels in line, and therefore the track rod wouldn't have been snapped at this point.
I've been back in touch with the Ford Dealership, pointing out what the recovery vehicle company have stated and the Ford Dealership have basically thrown it back at the recovery company. The Ford dealer have said they used purpose built skates that they use for immobilised vehicles, which do not allow movement on any of the vehicle wheels. The skates were fitted to each wheel and vehicle pushed into the workshop by hand.
Based on the above and the attached photos it would be appreciated to get peoples thoughts as to whether the recovery company are trying to pull a fast one with my company, or do they have a valid point?
If the track rod was broken during recovery then would it have been very obvious prior to the car being dropped off at the Ford dealership?
No expert, but would have thought the towing eye would have been far better for pulling, than dragging via a wheel. I would imagine any half-decent recovery company would have a towing eye that would fit in to the socket, removing the need to get acess to the boot to find the factory-supplied towing eye.
My money would be on the recovery company causing the damage. Like I say, I'm no expert though, so please treat my reply with the pinch of salt it deserves.
My money would be on the recovery company causing the damage. Like I say, I'm no expert though, so please treat my reply with the pinch of salt it deserves.
So, it wasn't broken when it left your house but it's now broken at the dealership.
The only logical conclusion is that it was either the recovery company or the dealership.
I would be asking them to sort it out between them, I know this might be difficult, but worth a try.
The only logical conclusion is that it was either the recovery company or the dealership.
I would be asking them to sort it out between them, I know this might be difficult, but worth a try.
Edited by Olivergt on Friday 12th August 00:07
Opinion.
I find it hard to believe that under tension when being manouevered onto the flatbed, the track rod should fail like that. I hazard that that diameter of steel could take the entire weight of the car in tension.
In fact it did not, as per the pictures. Was it weakened? Again I fail to understand this. I also fail to understand how it supposedly just about failed when under those stresses, but only actually failed when it was not.
Then - how did the dealership break it? If it did? One possible way is if they jacked the car up to fit the dollies and the jack was placed under the track rod. Or if they jacked it up for any other reason, from there.
It certainly took some sort of act for the break to occur - weakened or not. Was the actual act described to you? A just-about-to-break (assuming) part does not just break by someone looking at it.
End of the day I doubt you will get very far without an admission and if the part is available to purchase separately rather than a full steering rack I would take my final chances with the dealership and if no luck just replace and move on.
I find it hard to believe that under tension when being manouevered onto the flatbed, the track rod should fail like that. I hazard that that diameter of steel could take the entire weight of the car in tension.
In fact it did not, as per the pictures. Was it weakened? Again I fail to understand this. I also fail to understand how it supposedly just about failed when under those stresses, but only actually failed when it was not.
Then - how did the dealership break it? If it did? One possible way is if they jacked the car up to fit the dollies and the jack was placed under the track rod. Or if they jacked it up for any other reason, from there.
It certainly took some sort of act for the break to occur - weakened or not. Was the actual act described to you? A just-about-to-break (assuming) part does not just break by someone looking at it.
End of the day I doubt you will get very far without an admission and if the part is available to purchase separately rather than a full steering rack I would take my final chances with the dealership and if no luck just replace and move on.
jones1328 said:
In the first pic it looks like it has just rolled off the back of the recovery truck, indicating it was towed from the rear, not the front. I guess if it was on another recovery truck prior to this one then the damage could have been done then. Also, don't the wheels actually look a little out of alignment between the first and second pics? The nearside (passenger) looks like it has more lock than the offside. Hard to say or apportion blame conclusively.996TT02 said:
Opinion.
I find it hard to believe that under tension when being manouevered onto the flatbed, the track rod should fail like that. I hazard that that diameter of steel could take the entire weight of the car in tension.
In fact it did not, as per the pictures. Was it weakened? Again I fail to understand this. I also fail to understand how it supposedly just about failed when under those stresses, but only actually failed when it was not.
Then - how did the dealership break it? If it did? One possible way is if they jacked the car up to fit the dollies and the jack was placed under the track rod. Or if they jacked it up for any other reason, from there.
It certainly took some sort of act for the break to occur - weakened or not. Was the actual act described to you? A just-about-to-break (assuming) part does not just break by someone looking at it.
End of the day I doubt you will get very far without an admission and if the part is available to purchase separately rather than a full steering rack I would take my final chances with the dealership and if no luck just replace and move on.
+1 Agree its a hard one to bear but get a new track rod and new geo set up..I find it hard to believe that under tension when being manouevered onto the flatbed, the track rod should fail like that. I hazard that that diameter of steel could take the entire weight of the car in tension.
In fact it did not, as per the pictures. Was it weakened? Again I fail to understand this. I also fail to understand how it supposedly just about failed when under those stresses, but only actually failed when it was not.
Then - how did the dealership break it? If it did? One possible way is if they jacked the car up to fit the dollies and the jack was placed under the track rod. Or if they jacked it up for any other reason, from there.
It certainly took some sort of act for the break to occur - weakened or not. Was the actual act described to you? A just-about-to-break (assuming) part does not just break by someone looking at it.
End of the day I doubt you will get very far without an admission and if the part is available to purchase separately rather than a full steering rack I would take my final chances with the dealership and if no luck just replace and move on.
Otherwise it's stress and aggro fighting between the two companies..
That's been dragged forwards off the lorry via the track rod hence the marks/scratches/damage on the track rod, you can also see where the threads on the track rod have been deformed as it's been pulled forward and snapped, there's also a suspicious looking rust mark on the tyre just about in line with the track rod as if it's been in contact with a chain or wire rope.
I'd be pushing for the dealer and recovery company to sort it out amongst themselves...
I'd be pushing for the dealer and recovery company to sort it out amongst themselves...
nismo48 said:
+1 Agree its a hard one to bear but get a new track rod and new geo set up..
Otherwise it's stress and aggro fighting between the two companies..
Something to consider with this approach is that it's not just a track rod end that's broken, it's the track rod - part of the steering rack. Rebuild parts for the steering rack may not be available. Otherwise it's stress and aggro fighting between the two companies..
Cold said:
Something to consider with this approach is that it's not just a track rod end that's broken, it's the track rod - part of the steering rack. Rebuild parts for the steering rack may not be available.
If it is part of the rack then it will be a replacement rack and then the issue will be the old core will be less value than a complete one.To my mind that has been damaged by the recovery company, but which time did it happen. That is some force to break that, usually they bend.
If the dealership says it did not happen then go for the recovery company in small claims court, what have you to lose?
I agree that track rod is too clean for the first few centimetres of its length and even the the track rod end has a very clean 1cm part right where the track rod is screwed in.
My vote is on either the dragging or tie down strap being tied here!!!
It would be interesting to see a photograph of the back off the track rod/track rod end to see how 'clean' it is to show a witness mark from an attached strap
Josh
My vote is on either the dragging or tie down strap being tied here!!!
It would be interesting to see a photograph of the back off the track rod/track rod end to see how 'clean' it is to show a witness mark from an attached strap
Josh
Edited by Super Josh on Thursday 11th August 20:36
Super Josh said:
I agree that track rod is too clean for the first few centimetres of its length and even the the track rod end has a very clean 1cm part right where the track rod is screwed in.
My vote is on either the dragging or tie down strap being tied here!!!
It would be interesting to see a photograph of the back off the track rod/track rod end to see how 'clean' it is to show a witness mark from an attached strap
Josh
You've mentioned the track rod looks "clean" in places. What would that suggest please?My vote is on either the dragging or tie down strap being tied here!!!
It would be interesting to see a photograph of the back off the track rod/track rod end to see how 'clean' it is to show a witness mark from an attached strap
Josh
Edited by Super Josh on Thursday 11th August 20:36
jones1328 said:
Super Josh said:
I agree that track rod is too clean for the first few centimetres of its length and even the the track rod end has a very clean 1cm part right where the track rod is screwed in.
My vote is on either the dragging or tie down strap being tied here!!!
It would be interesting to see a photograph of the back off the track rod/track rod end to see how 'clean' it is to show a witness mark from an attached strap
Josh
You've mentioned the track rod looks "clean" in places. What would that suggest please?My vote is on either the dragging or tie down strap being tied here!!!
It would be interesting to see a photograph of the back off the track rod/track rod end to see how 'clean' it is to show a witness mark from an attached strap
Josh
Edited by Super Josh on Thursday 11th August 20:36
jones1328 said:
Thanks everyone for their responses so far. FYI - the repair work to the track rod was carried out a few weeks ago and paid for (£380... ouch!). Car was driving fine afterwards, just frustrating that I'm out of pocket when I could really with that sum of money.
£380 for an inner and outer track rod? Jesus weptSteveStrange said:
No expert, but would have thought the towing eye would have been far better for pulling, than dragging via a wheel. I would imagine any half-decent recovery company would have a towing eye that would fit in to the socket, removing the need to get acess to the boot to find the factory-supplied towing eye.
I had a car recovered recently and the recovery driver said he never used towing eyes and preferred to use the lower arm instead, after I offered to retrieve the towing eye from the boot.I could *imagine* a situation where a rusty crossmember is fine for years, right up until it disintegrates when the towing eye is used and making a real mess of the bumper.
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