My day with our 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid began as planned. We pulled into the service drive at Ford of Santa Monica for an oil change and tire rotation. We had an appointment and they were slow at the time, so it took less than an hour. Piece of cake.
When it came time to pay, we were reminded of a remaining balance on the service plan we purchased for the Fusion back when it first rolled off the lot. After the account balance was zeroed, it cost me just 36 cents for this service. Everything was going my way.
Then, as the advisor pulled my car around he shot me the zinger, "Oh, your right rear tire has a bulge in the sidewall. We don't have the tire in stock, but I can order one." We called our local tire shop and they didn't have a Michelin Energy MXV4 in stock either. We special ordered the tire. It won't arrive until tomorrow morning. Looks like my hopes for an easy day are out the window. And, now the Fusion has to park tonight.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 16,504 miles
bankerdanny says:
03:12 PM, 11/ 2/11
Personally I would drive it anyway. I drove my '87 Mustang with a similar buldge for over a month in the 80's (I was fresh out of school and making only fair money and the tire was $187 in 1989, big money then).
I wouldn't take it on a long road trip, but it is very unlikely to rupture during one day of driving even on not that great LA area roads.
wjtinatl says:
04:12 PM, 11/ 2/11
Won't matter much, you guys barely drive this thing anyway.
ptcdawg says:
04:28 PM, 11/ 2/11
Most of the time, those bulges in tires come from someone running into a curb/curb stop TOO HARD.
esoterica says:
04:31 PM, 11/ 2/11
+1 ptcdawg. And what is this, the fourth legitimate post in six months?
emajor says:
05:14 PM, 11/ 2/11
Any news on the fading dashboard?
blueprint1 says:
05:56 PM, 11/ 2/11
Yup - dashboard update requested.
thehankhill says:
06:31 PM, 11/ 2/11
As far as updates go with this car, I have a feeling it probably does get driven some, just not by the blog staff. This car, along with the Traverse probably turned into 'mules' for the internal (none writing) staff of Edmunds.
miamifan1 says:
07:34 PM, 11/ 2/11
glad to see this car getting some long-overdue attention.
panamera4 says:
08:30 PM, 11/ 2/11
I expect an update om the phantom RX400h also!
igeekone says:
01:01 AM, 11/ 3/11
@panamera4
Ditto, that is one vehicle that's in a mysterious void. Only 19 posts and it's the longest lasting LT vehicle, according to the list.
lolder says:
10:21 AM, 11/ 3/11
There's still no answer as to why the oil was changed at 9500 miles and 16,500 miles when the Owners Guide recommended oil change interval is 10,000 miles.
lolder says:
10:27 AM, 11/ 3/11
There's still no answer as to why the oil was changed at 9500 miles and 16,500 miles when the Owners Guide recommended oil change interval is 10,000 miles.