[rmrper99]

My wife took her Mariner to Firestone for a tire patch today (since I'm in Japan right now). The tech was polite and didn't try to force her to fix it there, but he showed her where the left rear strut was leaking. Noting the mileage of 22,000 (this is an 09), he said this should be under warranty. My wife is getting a little pissed at this point, as the car was just at the dealer 1.5 months ago for the CAM sensor TSB, and they replaced a noisy climate control actuator at that time as well. Any one else have a strut fail that was still this new?

I'm going to be in doghouse soon if things keep cropping up on this car. I recommended it and it has gone back the dealer for stuff more in the first 2 years of ownership than her 2003 Trailblazer did in 5.5 years and 80,000 miles.

 

[tang]

I have a 2009 as well, and I'm about 6,000 miles ahead of you. It's weird that a rear strut is leaking... I would almost suspect the front ones would be the one to bear more wear-and-tear than the rears. Anyhow, I'm also wondering if you picked up an early build and are just suffering from the consequences of so. I've gone to the dealership enough times to build a six-page warranty history, but nothing like your situation. (Two sets of front sway bar links though.)

 

[oskerb]

Hasnt happen to me on the Escape. On my Ranger it happened on 1 of 4 brand new shocks. I drove around town and come to realize there was a leaked, discovered by seeing dirt encrust the shock. The strut/shock leaking, could happen on any vehicle. It one of those odds that just happen to hit you and me.

My wife took her Mariner to Firestone for a tire patch today (since I'm in Japan right now). The tech was polite and didn't try to force her to fix it there, but he showed her where the left rear strut was leaking. Noting the mileage of 22,000 (this is an 09), he said this should be under warranty. My wife is getting a little pissed at this point, as the car was just at the dealer 1.5 months ago for the CAM sensor TSB, and they replaced a noisy climate control actuator at that time as well. Any one else have a strut fail that was still this new?

I'm going to be in doghouse soon if things keep cropping up on this car. I recommended it and it has gone back the dealer for stuff more in the first 2 years of ownership than her 2003 Trailblazer did in 5.5 years and 80,000 miles.

 

[SUVord]

Unfortunately, it is one of those things which are there to frustrate us consumers and the manufacturers as well.
In any production line of mass made products there is an acceptable number of "lemons" coming out.We only hope that the "lemon is not going to fall on our head.
I can only feel and show compassion for those owners, regardless of the vehicle make or model who end up in a situation like this.

 

[tomw]

A slight drool on a shock absorber is a lot less problem than a sticking accelerator or leaking fuel line. So, there's that...
What SUVord said is true. The manufacturers specify tolerances, and sometimes you end up with the one out of a million that has 'stackup of tolerances', such as where the seal is specified a .505 diameter and the rod is .495, for example, and the specs were +/- .005. Here, you'd have a .010 stackup, which may be too much.
Nuisance, yes, but a real trouble? No, in my opinion.
tom

 

[slavrenz]

Can you post a pic of the actual "leak"? I ask, because many manufacturers publish TSBs about when a leak is actually problematic, and oftentimes, a light film of oil on the outside of the strut does not actually mean that the strut (or shock absorber) is bad.

 

[rmrper99]

Well, now that I am home I have had a chance to look. There is an oily film, but no evidence of a major problem. So, I'll get it looked at sometime this week. Probably just ended up with one that died before its time. Just a minor annoyance.

 

[oskerb]

Any leak is not good. The only trace of oil should be on the shaft but it really shouldnt be noticable, more like a smear of oil (think of sunglasses that got smeared with an oily/dirty rag)

Well, now that I am home I have had a chance to look. There is an oily film, but no evidence of a major problem. So, I'll get it looked at sometime this week. Probably just ended up with one that died before its time. Just a minor annoyance.