A certified used lemon?

[WeLoveLilo05]

We just got a 2007 certified used Ford Fusion, had less than 20,000 on it, we got a great deal, it was a showroom car.
Anyways, test drove, loved it, took it home, I drove it for 2 days and the other day it was kind of like sputtering? The RPM gauge was going between the 1 and 2 and it felt like the engine was reving a bit. So, I haven't driven it since then, I told fiance he took it to work and it did the same with him. Yesterday no one drove the car. This morning I told fiance to take the car and call the dealership, its certified used they have to fix it and we were promised free rentals if it ever had to go in the shop.
He just texted me and said the check engine light is now on....ugh!
What do you think the prob is with the car?

 

[kaytieeldr]

O2 sensor.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

O2 sensor.

I wouldn't think so, usually it won't cause such a dramatic issue that quick, often the car will just run really rich or very lean, not typically providing the symptoms of the OP.

I would say it could be a few things, first thing is a fouled spark plug or ignition coil. Next would be the MAF Sensor.

Its not common for any of these to fail this soon, but not unheard of either.

 

[terri01p]

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Whats an 02 sensor? Is this the same problem the toyotas had? (please tell me no, we were going with a toyota until this huge recall)
How did this car pass these "rigorous" inspections that the certified pre-owns supposedly get if this is the problem?
Fiance just texted me and said he was taking it now to the dealership to have a mechanic look at it. DO you think this is wise? Can you just get your money back for a car? LOL

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

O also wanted to add that it sputtered when stopped at a light or stop sign.
I am just stressing b/c I am thinking of the toyotas and everything

 

[happygirl]

Whats an 02 sensor? Is this the same problem the toyotas had? (please tell me no, we were going with a toyota until this huge recall)
How did this car pass these "rigorous" inspections that the certified pre-owns supposedly get if this is the problem?
Fiance just texted me and said he was taking it now to the dealership to have a mechanic look at it. DO you think this is wise? Can you just get your money back for a car? LOL

No, they aren't going to give you the money back. NO the sensor isn't what wrong with the Toyota.

 

[happygirl]

O also wanted to add that it sputtered when stopped at a light or stop sign.
I am just stressing b/c I am thinking of the toyotas and everything

It sounds like maybe you got bad gas? or the fuel pump or the fuel filter

 

[natenapril]

O also wanted to add that it sputtered when stopped at a light or stop sign.
I am just stressing b/c I am thinking of the toyotas and everything

Okay with Toyota it was the pedal and most (if not all) have been fixed. The pedal problem with Toyota and what you are experiencing with your FORD are completely different. Toyota was not having a problem with their cars stalling and "sputtering". They had a problem with them accelerating. You heard alot of news about it beause Toyota doesn't have as many recalls as Ford and Chevy.
Also, check online to see if you can find others who complain of the same problem you are having and what it was.

We had a new Ford once and that was it. Our Ford dealer was a nightmare to work with. Hopefully you will have beter luck.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

O2 sensor.

Ding Ding Ding! They haven't confirmed it at the service dept. but upon hearing the symptoms they believe that that is the problem as well. They are taking care of fiance now.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

It's a Ford, that's your problem right there

No, it does sound like it could be the O2 sensor, DH just had to have one replaced and it was doing something similar on his Saturn, but it is almost 10 years old and has over 120,000 miles on it. But, it runs like new now.

Suzanne

 

[1stluvispooh]

It's a Ford, that's your problem right there

Suzanne

You took the words out of my mouth!!!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

It just amazes me how you all know so much about cars. Seriously, I am clueless about this stuff and don't even know what half of these parts are
We were pretty open when it came to cars. Personally I like foreign cars, fiance likes american. His chevy has 170000 miles on it and the first major problem that he ever had with it was about 2 months ago. Don't remember what it was but it was $1000 to fix
But when we weighed out our options and how much we wanted to spend we would have been spending the same thing for a stripped civic as the fusion. And don't get me wrong, I like the civic, but we wanted something bigger. Fiance is over 6 ft tall, we have a little monster in the backseat and who knows what the future may bring lol.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It just amazes me how you all know so much about cars. Seriously, I am clueless about this stuff and don't even know what half of these parts are

Don't be impressed, at least not by my answer. I only "know" because I had the same problem (but with a Hyundai).

 

[natenapril]

Don't be impressed, at least not by my answer. I only "know" because I had the same problem (but with a Hyundai).

We had the same problem with our GMC. Only problem was there was more than 1 O2 sensor on the Sierra and so my DH got really upset when he replaced the wrong one. But then the bearings started to go too so my DH was not a happy camper (the truck was only3 years old with 40,000 miles).

 

[jlewisinsyr]

It's a Ford, that's your problem right there

I know it's somewhat in jest, but the most recent JD Powers would offer a differing opinion:

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2010-Vehicle-Dependability-Study-Results/page-3/

One thing to take strong note of is the list that once was comprised of pretty much only Japanese built vehicles now is being shared by a lot of Ford (and to a smaller extent GM) vehicles including the Lincoln MKZ, Ford Mustang, Mercury Milan, Ford 500, etc. Ford has a total of 13 vehicles listed, Toyota has 11.

Now normally I'm not a big fan of vehicle studies, but the JD Power is based on 3 year old vehicles and the number of issues per 100, which levels the playing field and isn't just a smoke and mirrors like Consumer Reports.

Ford is really taking off on long term reliability and quality, the learned from their mistakes and have done a great job in correcting them, even more so then GM (I'll give you Chrysler is pretty low right now) and with Toyota slipping (even outside the most recent recall issues), there will be a lot of movement in quality.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I know it's somewhat in jest, but the most recent JD Powers would offer a differing opinion:

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2010-Vehicle-Dependability-Study-Results/page-3/

One thing to take strong note of is the list that once was comprised of pretty much only Japanese built vehicles now is being shared by a lot of Ford (and to a smaller extent GM) vehicles including the Lincoln MKZ, Ford Mustang, Mercury Milan, Ford 500, etc. Ford has a total of 13 vehicles listed, Toyota has 11.

Now normally I'm not a big fan of vehicle studies, but the JD Power is based on 3 year old vehicles and the number of issues per 100, which levels the playing field and isn't just a smoke and mirrors like Consumer Reports.

Ford is really taking off on long term reliability and quality, the learned from their mistakes and have done a great job in correcting them, even more so then GM (I'll give you Chrysler is pretty low right now) and with Toyota slipping (even outside the most recent recall issues), there will be a lot of movement in quality.

wow the fusion was #4 for 2010, thats pretty good.

 

[dnoyes]

The good news is that the engine light came on. That's how the car sends a code to the main computer to tell them how to fix it.

Also, after these cars are inspected they are detailed. You could just have a wet connection from cleaning the engine. Happens all the time.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I know it's somewhat in jest, but the most recent JD Powers would offer a differing opinion:

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2010-Vehicle-Dependability-Study-Results/page-3/

One thing to take strong note of is the list that once was comprised of pretty much only Japanese built vehicles now is being shared by a lot of Ford (and to a smaller extent GM) vehicles including the Lincoln MKZ, Ford Mustang, Mercury Milan, Ford 500, etc. Ford has a total of 13 vehicles listed, Toyota has 11.

Now normally I'm not a big fan of vehicle studies, but the JD Power is based on 3 year old vehicles and the number of issues per 100, which levels the playing field and isn't just a smoke and mirrors like Consumer Reports.

Ford is really taking off on long term reliability and quality, the learned from their mistakes and have done a great job in correcting them, even more so then GM (I'll give you Chrysler is pretty low right now) and with Toyota slipping (even outside the most recent recall issues), there will be a lot of movement in quality.

I go with my gut and past experiences when buying a vehicle, I wouldn't even know what kinds gide to pick up anyway. Never had a good experience with a Ford. I have had a Pontiac (not great), a Buick which I loved and drove until it died and had almost 200,000 miles on it; a Taurus, it was good, but DH totaled it; he now has the Saturn I bought with 97,000 miles on it and I have the Dodge Caravan my mom bought in 2008 and never had a minutes trouble out of it.

OP, my mom made sure I knew at least a few basics about my car so I didn't have to rely on a man if I didn't have one, now I do, so I let DH worry about most of it, I just pay for it. He usually over reacts and it usually isn't the huge problem he makes it out to be when the car gets to the shop

Suzanne

 

[FireDancer]

It just amazes me how you all know so much about cars. Seriously, I am clueless about this stuff and don't even know what half of these parts are

Everyone (well, most people) have something they specialize in or know a lot about. For me it is I.T. and fitness. For other it is cars, appliances, the law, or anything else. I'm sure the are things you know about that many of us don't.

O2 censors are vulnerable to problems because of where they are on the car (attached to the exhaust system underneath). Sometimes road debris can cause an issue, sometimes problems with heat shielding can cause an issue. Luckily they are generally inexpensive to fix because they are easily accessible and not that expansive of a part.