@Nicholas
They’ve been this way for years. Look at how they’ve handled the transmission issues with the Focus, Fiesta, and EcoSport. And still no real solution from Ford, even though the problem started with the 2010 Fiesta.
@EmberGlow
Lol, that’s funny. Our 2023 Bronco had 3,000 miles on it and was perfectly drivable, but we had to leave it at the dealership for 3 weeks after our appointment (which was already 2 months out) to get a minor issue fixed under warranty. The alarm kept going off because of a faulty hood sensor. No loaner, no concern from them. That’s just the way it is now.
@Jessie
I had to leave my 2021 Edge at the dealer for almost three weeks for a sunroof rattle. They set up the appointment, gave me a loaner, and took good care of me. This was the dealer I bought the car from, though.
@EmberGlow
Good for you. At my dealership, they’d just laugh at you for asking for that.
Jessie said:
@EmberGlow
Good for you. At my dealership, they’d just laugh at you for asking for that.
So you spent all that money on the car, and now they’re treating you like dirt? If it’s under warranty and they can’t support you, they’ve got no right to act like that.
@EmberGlow
I agree, but what can I do? Reality is what it is. We paid $64k cash for the Bronco, but this is just how it goes now.
Jessie said:
@EmberGlow
I agree, but what can I do? Reality is what it is. We paid $64k cash for the Bronco, but this is just how it goes now.
You could start by leaving them a brutally honest Google review.
Jessie said:
@EmberGlow
Good for you. At my dealership, they’d just laugh at you for asking for that.
Find a new dealership.
Jessie said:
@EmberGlow
Good for you. At my dealership, they’d just laugh at you for asking for that.
Find a new dealership.
LOL. The next closest dealers (both 1-2 hours away) have THREE-month waits for service and still don’t offer loaners.
Our 2020 Escape is probably the least reliable car we’ve owned, which is saying something because we’ve owned Jeeps and two Kias. Here’s what’s gone wrong with it in just two years:
- 4 recalls
- Rear shocks failed 2K miles outside of warranty
- Interior LED lights failed
- Paint and chrome peeling off window switches (covered by a CSP, thankfully)
- Automatic rear liftgate only works 40% of the time
- Black coloring wearing off the “leather” seats
- AWD module failure, causing the cruise control, traction control, drive modes, auto-hold, and pre-collision systems to stop working
We bought it with 30K miles and have added another 40K. At 70K miles, this car looks and acts like it’s got double or triple the miles. I love my Ford trucks, but I’m seriously reconsidering buying another Ford car or SUV.
In my opinion, dealership service quality has tanked. And they charge way too much. My last oil change on my F150 cost $125, and they tried to upsell me on a new air filter for $89… and it wasn’t even the same color as my truck’s actual air filter!
I really wish we could buy cars directly from the factory. Maybe then dealerships would actually have to compete and do their jobs right.
When the furniture salesman took over as CEO, quality took a huge hit. There was a time when Ford was focused on quality and it showed.
The current CEO seems a bit better, though, so maybe things will improve.
They’ve been losing the plot for a while. Ford used to be reliable, but now it feels like every new model has some kind of recall.
Nathaniel said:
They’ve been losing the plot for a while. Ford used to be reliable, but now it feels like every new model has some kind of recall.
It’s so frustrating. This is the second “non-recall” issue I’ve had where Ford just issues a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) instead of a full recall. I’m honestly thinking about going to Firestone for the repair and then filing a complaint with the NTSB.
I know how to deal with this kind of thing while waiting for my Subaru to be fixed, but most car owners wouldn’t feel safe with this issue since it affects the ability to accelerate to highway speeds.
@Nicholas
A lot of the delays are because of a shortage of technicians and the amount of work they’re getting. It’s an issue across almost every brand.
Part of the problem is that techs don’t get paid enough, especially since the 2008 crash. The other part is that we’ve pushed all the kids into college instead of trade jobs.
Add the regular repairs and recall work, and it’s a perfect storm.
@Leighton
Preach! I’ve been a dealer tech for about 13 years now, and the backlog is insane. It’s to the point where I could work 50-60 hours a week if I wanted to, and still wouldn’t catch up.
@Leighton
So why is it that Firestone fixed my Subaru’s radiator, coolant hoses, belts, and more in just 3 days? And this was with them needing to track down parts for a 2012 WRX, which aren’t exactly common. I doubt they’re paying their staff better than a Ford dealership.
If Ford didn’t see this coming two years ago, that’s incompetence at the top. Even beyond my non-recall issue, I’ve got an actual recall and a bunch of TSBs on my Maverick. So where’s the support for the customers?
I’m really lucky to have an older car to fall back on, but I know a lot of Ford owners don’t. This hurts the brand and just makes Ford look incompetent.
@Nicholas
Firestone can do it faster because they handle basic repairs with less qualified staff and cheaper aftermarket parts. They need to be faster and cheaper, otherwise they wouldn’t stay in business.
As for Ford’s quality issues, you’re right. Every brand has had major problems in recent years, but Ford seems to have fallen harder and faster. TSBs are pretty standard in the industry, though. They get info out to dealers quickly, while recalls take a long time because of all the bureaucracy involved.
I get your frustration. Maybe try calling other dealers if you can. I’ve got five dealers within 40 minutes of me, and there’s a huge difference in wait times between them.
@Leighton
Thanks for the tip. I did call four dealers, and all of them are saying 2-10 weeks. I’m trying to see if one further away can help, but it’s a mess. If I can get a loaner, I’ll take it.
@Nicholas
Just to clarify, dealerships don’t really have anything to do with the manufacturer, aside from being licensed dealers. They don’t control parts availability or Ford’s warranty policies.