Dealership service denied

[Ducati1098]

Pretty sure refusal to do Warranty work is against the Magnuson-Moss Act.

This is for refusing to warranty something, not refusing to even look at the vehicle.

Dealers can take whatever work they want and prioritize any customer they want.
Most dealers are extremely backed up with work due to parts shortages and lack of people that want to work on cars anymore. Makes sense that they would want to take care of the people that gave them business before anyone else

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[sneakydave]

Here is the text from the warranty guide of a 2023 Bronco:

Ford Motor Company and your selling dealer thank you for selecting one of our quality products. Our commitment to you and your vehicle begins with quality protection and service. When you need warranty repairs, your selling dealer would like you to return to it for that service, but you may also take your vehicle to another Ford Motor Company dealership authorized for warranty repairs. Certain warranty repairs require special training though, so not all dealers are authorized to perform all warranty repairs. That means that, depending on the warranty repair needed, the vehicle may need to be taken to another dealer. If a particular dealership cannot assist you, then contact the Customer Relationship Center at 1-800-392-3673.​

 

[CMillBronco]

I had a similar issue when I had a new 16' F250, the dealership I purchased at couldn't fix a problem it had from day one, after 6 visits I received a survey in which I marked "No I won't return to the dealership again". The Service manager saw it and emailed me that they agreed with me and they wouldn't work on my truck anymore, the open issue with the truck was still open. Spoke to Ford customer service and had a friend who worked for Ford in customer service and they said they couldn't do anything as each dealership is it's own separate business from Ford. The only power Ford had was some kind of percentage penalty when the dealership gets bad reviews.

This Bronco is my 1st Ford since that 16' as it left us with such a disgust with Ford, we only have 2500 miles so haven't dealt with service yet but after trying to reach them a few times with no call backs it seems to be just as bad as before.

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

It's funny, because their ability to service vehicles is always dealerships' argument against direct sales. If they can't even do that, can we finally get rid of stealerships?

Git rid of them, then who exactly will be the ones to service your vehicle? Then think about how many there would be and where. See the paradox here?

Dealership profit is all in the service center, so if a dealership doesn’t want to take on a service order and the overcharging and chargebacks they do to corporate, it means they are really out over a barrel And in some trouble.

We have a shortage of mechanics, plus, the few kids out there who do actually want to do some real work in a real job are afraid because if everyone is driving EVs in 15 years, what will they do? What if service becomes automated?

So, yeah, they don’t have the personnel to cover a ton of new customers, which says a lot.

If it was convenient to go a long distance for your purchase, then do the same for your service. Otherwise, buy from one of the seems like several dealerships you passed on the way to the one you purchased from.

I chose a dealership that isn’t exactly close to me, but I also have no issue driving across town for the service. Does it suck? Sure, but I like that dealership and am willing to make the journey.

 

[jdbronc]

I wonder if the Ford extended warranty plans would have forced them to take your vehicle? Granger Motors has a good deal on them. https://grangerfordextendedwarranty.com/ford/bronco.html#

 

[CMillBronco]

I wonder if the Ford extended warranty plans would have forced them to take your vehicle? Granger Motors has a good deal on them. https://grangerfordextendedwarranty.com/ford/bronco.html#

Nope - I had one and it made no difference.

 

[HorizonHunter]

I had a dealer tell me to take it back to dealer I purchased it at, 2 states away, for a soft top warranty issue.

 

[sneakydave]

There would be no way I'd ever purchase a vehicle from a dealer if I ever ran into this nonsense at their location...

 

[Butzy]

Each dealership is independently owned and operated; they are not "FORD". A private business sets their own rules, "free" country and all that. If one does not like their rules you take your business elsewhere.

Not the answer you were looking for I know.

However Ford advertises the ability to have your vehicle serviced at their dealerships across the country leading me to believe that they have a contract to uphold. They also advertise free loaners which nobody seems to get any longer.

 

[Butzy]

I just had warranty work done on my vehicle from a dealership I have never purchased from. I knew the issue however and the parts were on backorder. Not a driveability thing so not a big deal. I was happy to wait my place in line. I won't let my selling dealership work on my vehicles any longer.

 

[Dral97]

BUT, dealers and auto mechanic shops across the country are short-staffed right now—which is why we are seeing 30+day wait times for service. So I can respect the decision to prioritize existing customers over new customers.

I think this is a big part of it. Luckily a local dealer I started using (not where I purchased) takes great care of me so far and I just got an appointment under 2 weeks out. I'm also in a fairly rural area (but it seems everyone and their grandmother drives an F150 or 250 around here).

 

[Lanshark]

just another data point here... all the dealers around me, min of a week to diagnose, 3 weeks or more to actually fix something. All the dealers... I called many. I also have two Infiniti vehicles, they can be serviced at Infiniti or Nissan, also 3 weeks or more to do anything. My fave tech with Nissan said there were 45 cars in his backlog waiting for various parts or services (sending something out or having a different specialized tech do somethin). Unfortunately this is the new normal for the foreseeable future.

Also, purchased ESP with enhanced first day rental. Really made no difference in the lack of availability in a rental/loaner car. That was super disappointing as well. The dealers used to use Enterprise or some other rental company as a backup, I dont see that being a thing anymore.

 

[21BL2DR]

they are not required to work on your car. I know a small dealership with limited resources that operates this way as well. Basically it is the service managers choice. Ford doesn't run their business either so they are not going to demand they do anything.

 

[Compta38]

just say 'yes' next time and see if it slips through the cracks.

 

[MayhemMike]

Due to staff shortages the dealership is placing a priority on direct customers. That being said, their response s not correct. Warranty work is stated by the contract to be conducted at any Ford dealership. In your case the dealership should have informed you it would be an extended time period before your vehicle could be seen. BTW, I CALLED my dealership service dept to have the water pump on my 2018 Mustang GT changed under warranty (80K miles). I was informed I couldn’t get an appointment for several months. Next day I WENT to the dealership service dept and requested warranty service for my vehicle without informing them I had previously spoken to them by phone. I was given an appointment two weeks from the day. Just saying.

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