Getting the warranty runaround

[ZoranC]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

To give up on a company, etc. because of 1 bad experience is ridiculous. Out of the 5 Fords my family has bought in the past 8 years, 1 was a problem and the entire vehicle was replaced. Pretty dang good IMO.

My "one bad experience" has so far costed me approximately $50,000+ and counting. For any reasonable person that is enough of an experience to say "never again Ford". Maybe I am just not rich enough to experience owning Ford.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

To give up on a company, etc. because of 1 bad experience is ridiculous. Out of the 5 Fords my family has bought in the past 8 years, 1 was a problem and the entire vehicle was replaced. Pretty dang good IMO.

My one bad experience, was divided up into SEVERAL different occurrences. 1 car, yes. But many, many, many trips to the dealership service department. And everytime I went to the service dept, I was always greeted with rudeness, and accusations claiming that I always caused the damage to the vehicle. Not once did I ever hear "we'll get that taken care of for you", or anything even remotely close to that. The last straw was when the motor went out in it. The dealership kept my car for over 2 months before any determination was ever made on it. End result was a faulty fuel injector stuck open, causing the cylinder to load up with fuel, then bent the rod. Ford service rep tried his best to blame me for the motor. Bu in the end, Ford picked up the tab. Meanwhile, I was out close to $2g's for the rental car for over 2 months

I personally feel that I have every right to not deal with a new Ford vehicle again. Not saying that I will never buy a Ford product, I just won't step foot on their dealerships lot, and give them any more of my money The Lightning has always been a truck that I've wanted, and I will buy a used one when/if that time ever comes

Nick

[MDetail]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

All of this Ford/GM smashing makes me happy I bought a Honda, and my mom always wonders why I like Japanese imports. You can always call the FORD MFG customer service line, and bring up the fact that your car has been siting at this particular dealership for a while. They may be able to pinpoint your problem (dealer or mfg) and if it is the mfg you may be able to complain enough for them to work something out in the free loaner car dept. Maybe you could use the fact that you are going to trade in your old sable for a new car, and if this is the customer service you are going to get, you wont be trading it in for another Ford to your advantage. Either way, good luck.

[roushstage2]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

My "one bad experience" has so far costed me approximately $50,000+ and counting. For any reasonable person that is enough of an experience to say "never again Ford". Maybe I am just not rich enough to experience owning Ford.

I do not know anything about your experience and as such I have no comment about it, but you could just as easily have a severe problem with ANY manufacturer!!! I have heard them. My mother had one with her $50,000 Expedition as well, not including the gas to drive 100+ miles round trip 1-2 times per week for months to have it worked on before she got her new one under the lemon law. She has only had one problem with her new one (caused by a little one in the back seat) and they (the Ford dealership) ordered the parts when she called to make her appointment and everything was there ready to go when she showed up.

Maybe I am just not rich enough to experience owning Ford.

I don't understand though why my comment is being taken as a money issue??? I'm just not seeing what having a problem with a dealership or car has to do with your income?

My one bad experience, was divided up into SEVERAL different occurrences. 1 car, yes. But many, many, many trips to the dealership service department. And every time I went to the service dept, I was always greeted with rudeness, and accusations claiming that I always caused the damage to the vehicle. Not once did I ever hear "we'll get that taken care of for you", or anything even remotely close to that. The last straw was when the motor went out in it. The dealership kept my car for over 2 months before any determination was ever made on it. End result was a faulty fuel injector stuck open, causing the cylinder to load up with fuel, then bent the rod. Ford service rep tried his best to blame me for the motor. Bu in the end, Ford picked up the tab. Meanwhile, I was out close to $2g's for the rental car for over 2 months

I personally feel that I have every right to not deal with a new Ford vehicle again. Not saying that I will never buy a Ford product, I just won't step foot on their dealerships lot, and give them any more of my money The Lightning has always been a truck that I've wanted, and I will buy a used one when/if that time ever comes

Nick

Understandable. That of course sounds like it was a bad dealership (every manufacturer has them. I've been to my fair share for many manufacturers). The reps get the info from the dealership so it, like I said, comes to the big guy vs. the little guy. I do sympathize with you over the hassle and sometimes the bigger cost, but as you stated, Ford did pick up the tab. Seems like not all hope was lost? Please understand I am not taking sides here, just stating my thoughts.

BTW, I almost traded my Mustang in for a Lightning one time. Nice trucks!



Also, this thread is talking about getting a catalytic converter replaced in a not-so-timely fashion. Not car failures which seems to be a question as to why you would want to buy another car of that same brand. That is what I was referring to as the "bad experience" in this case. That would be a bit silly because of one dealership's incompetence to get their story straight (as far as any of us knows, including the OP since the dealership hasn't provided any information stating otherwise).

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

I hate to have this thread turn into a bash fest...

I really do appreciate the help, though!


Anyways, the dealer promised to have the car done today, but nothing happened. This week has been filled with so many exams (and so is next week), but I'll try to give Ford and the GM a call late week.

To answer some of your questions:

There is one other Ford dealer in town that does service. They also sell, Mercury, Lincoln, Jeep, Nissan, Infiniti, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, and BMW. Due to some extremely bad service and sales lies, I'll never go there. My Dad bought a used 924 from the Porsche dealer only to find that the car was two cars - the front end was one car and the rest was another. The insurance company sent us pictures of the car basically split in two after the car developed an oil consumption problem.

The dealership also gave me the excuse that the car wasn't under the extended warranty. But, isn't the emission system covered under the factory standard warranty?



All I can say is that I'm sure glad that the car has a coat of NXT 2.0 and two coats of M16 protecting it!

[seth1066]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

Chris, here is a simple way to know: Call different dealership. Ask for quote on parts and delivery estimate.

Exactly the thing to do, call and ask for wholesale parts tell them you need a pair of cats for a '04 24v Sable. Heck, even call the Ford dealership that the car is at first. If you find a few dealers that don't have them, that would be the answer. Any service department wants the car in and out, they get paid for warranty work, they want the profit on the books.

[ZoranC]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

I do not know anything about your experience and as such I have no comment about it, but you could just as easily have a severe problem with ANY manufacturer!!!

Correct. That is exactly my point. It can happen to anyone. It is how company deals with you once it happens that makes the difference. Company that treats you very bad when they should be apologizing and cleaning up mess that is their fault, not your fault, deserves to be left in dust and never be given chance again.

[ZoranC]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

The dealership also gave me the excuse that the car wasn't under the extended warranty. But, isn't the emission system covered under the factory standard warranty?

Yes, it is my understanding that they are.

Even more, it is my understanding often emissions warranty is much longer than standard warranty.

It is also my understanding that based on that, in scenarios when standard warranty expired but emissions did not, and say cat converter fails and consequently takes down the engine with it because failure of part under warranty caused failure of part that is not under warranty warranty repair should cover _both_.

[ZoranC]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

Exactly the thing to do, call and ask for wholesale parts tell them you need a pair of cats for a '04 24v Sable. Heck, even call the Ford dealership that the car is at first.

Chris, have a friend call wholesale parts at dealership your car is at. Have him order cat for you. When cat arrives go there with witness, have part in front of yoy but don't pay yet, get GM, tell him part is there and that you now want to talk to dealership owner and Ford rep.

[seth1066]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

I think this is still current:

From:

http://www.epa.gov/oms/cert/factshts/catcvrts.pdf

"First and most importantly, the original converter on a car or truck was designed to last the
life of the vehicle if it is properly used and maintained, and is warranted by the vehicle manufacturer
to last for at least 5 years or 50,000 miles (8 years or 80,000 miles on 1995 and newer cars and
trucks), whichever comes first. See the vehicle warranty booklet for more information."

[roushstage2]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

Correct. That is exactly my point. It can happen to anyone. It is how company deals with you once it happens that makes the difference. Company that treats you very bad when they should be apologizing and cleaning up mess that is their fault, not your fault, deserves to be left in dust and never be given chance again.

I think this is still current:

From:

http://www.epa.gov/oms/cert/factshts/catcvrts.pdf

"First and most importantly, the original converter on a car or truck was designed to last the
life of the vehicle if it is properly used and maintained, and is warranted by the vehicle manufacturer
to last for at least 5 years or 50,000 miles (8 years or 80,000 miles on 1995 and newer cars and
trucks), whichever comes first. See the vehicle warranty booklet for more information."

I have never seen the link, but I have heard about the 8/80,000 for newer cars. Recently had this issue come up with a new Toyota where the service center wanted to charge several hundred for a diagnostic even though it was covered by this federal emissions warranty and the car was and is still under the factory Toyota warranty. I got a scanner, found out what the light was about, found a TSB # and called the service manager, car was brought in a couple of days later and was fixed on the spot no questions asked.

[seth1066]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

Chris, have a friend call wholesale parts at dealership your car is at. Have him order cat for you. When cat arrives go there with witness, have part in front of yoy but don't pay yet, get GM, tell him part is there and that you now want to talk to dealership owner and Ford rep.

I think this could cause a jam up of some sort, You would need to have your own cash out for the part and who knows what the internal cost is and how it is paid? IOW, most dealership service departments get their parts at cost plus a percentage, while independent shops get them for retail less a percentage. Besides, if they are stalling, they could say they just aquired the cats and don't need yours. In any event, the cats are really not available or there is another problem the service manager is not revealing.

If the cats are actually readily available, that information will be all you will need to inquire as to what the real problem might be. I've seen situations where the car suffered body damage at the hands of mechanic or porter and was getting repaired and that was the reason for the stall.

[roushstage2]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

In all honesty, if the car is still there (I'm assuming it has been sitting at the dealership this whole time), I'd give them the benefit of the doubt that they cats are on order. It is paid work for them and the car is taking up space. They probably don't want the car there any longer than it has to be. Although, if they said the car would be done today, I'd also assume they got the part in but maybe couldn't find the time as they now have to schedule the car in along with all of the others they have to fix as well.

Who did you talk to? I'd only inquire with managers at this point just to prevent any information miscommunication or lack of.

[VonLego]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

While I'm sure the Lightning is great...

... if you trade that Roush in for a truck you will make me cry for weeks. Nice black swirless mustang to the hands of a dealership...

Just give it to me

[roushstage2]

Re: Getting the warranty runaround

That was some time ago. Was going to trade it for a WRX STi, then Lightning, and finally "Terminator" Cobra. Saw another Roush coming home from my last trip to the dealership and decided right then and there I couldn't ever do it.

There are actually many people that said they'd be upset to see the car go. They love just to be able to see it!