Last month we had quite a discussion about how the Passive Anti-Theft System on the 2005 is installed but does not work. This means the expensive chips you have or have bought in your keys are about as good as chips and dips. I sent an inquiry to Ford Customer Service about two weeks ago knowing I would probably not get a good reply since my previous attempts just sent me to Ask Kate (Bless Her Heart). This time I did get a reply (after twelve days). I reprint it below for your chuckles. After a few days I sent another request for information to Ford Marketing and got a reply the same day that confirmed the system would not work until new hardware and software is installed some time in the future. I just got back from town with my new $1.49 key and it works great! Gets me in without the Perimeter Alarm sounding and also I can drive away. I did write back to Ford and suggested they may want to alert the dealers out there who are selling the $100 keys and telling customers they have a working alarm system that they should get ahold of their customers and make refunds before those customers sue them.
Mike
Quote:
Date: 13 May 2005 14:45:17 -0400
From: crcfmc@ford.com
Subject: RE: AskKate2005 / Ford / Escape hybrid Vehicle Problems
To: sdctcher@yahoo.com
Dear <Customer>,
Thank you for contacting the Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship
Center regarding <Insert Issue>.
In an effort to assist, we have tried to contact you at the telephone
number <you provided/listed in your customer profile> on <INSERT DATE OF
CALL> at <INSERT TIME OF CALL> Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in trying to speak with you.
Please feel free to contact the Customer Relationship Center at your
convenience, where any representative would be glad to assist you. We
can be contacted toll free at 1-800-392-3673, Monday through Friday
between the hours of 8AM and 5PM. Hearing impaired callers with access to a
TDD may reach us by calling 1-800-232-5952.
We consider the satisfaction of our customers one of our most important
objectives. If you have any other inquiries or concerns, please feel
free to contact us and we will be happy to address them for you.
Sincerely,
Sonia
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company
-----Original Message-----
From: sdctcher@yahoo.com
Sent: 5/1/2005 08:44:04 PM
To: <crcfmc@ford.com>
Cc: <askkate@ford.com>
Subject: AskKate2005 / Ford / Escape hybrid Vehicle Problems
sdctcher@yahoo.com
Vehicle Owner: Yes
Telephone Number: 760-xxx-xxxx
Model Year: 2005
Brand: Ford
Model: Escape hybrid
VIN Number: 1FMYU96H65KCxxxxx
Mileage: 9803
Category of Query/Concern:
Vehicle Problems
Description of Issue/Concern:
I was able to have a cheap ignition key made at my hardware store and use it to access and drive my car without an alarm sounding.I was under the impression that my car had the PATS system in addition to the Perimeter Alarm. According to page 109 of my Owner's Manual "using a non-programmed key will not permit your car to start". This is not true.
My dealer charged me over $100 for a chip key that works the same as my
$1.49 hardware store key. What is going on here?
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