I have lawyers in the family, no problem. This is much bigger than just me fighting a dealership. You may be in this position shortly, depending on your mileage. We need to make a big scene for someone of importance to take notice of this problem and step forward and do something about it. Anyone know if this is a problem in Epeditions, F250s, or Econoline 150/250s?

 

I'm glad I financed through Ford Credit....if they ever try some ***** like this I'll threaten to stop paying for it and go get a Chevy

 

FYI

Other day I was at my mom's and she received a letter from Honda on her 2000 Accord stating that because of class action settlement, her vehicle's warranty will extend transmission repairs 'til 2009 or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first. From the letter, someone (actually 4 member) from CA filed a class action lawsuit to settle Honda's known transmission problem. Although she didn't experience this herself, like our truck--not everyone is known to have this problem, it covers her repair. I think group of us ought to start sometype of legal action...it will be matter of time before some of us will see 100,000 miles rolling on their odo to find out they need additional services or even new heads. For some with 100,000 miles club, changing heads might even cost half of truck's value??????

 

Great point. My truck cost $20K, they want $2400 for plug change/head removal. That's like 12% cost of my truck NEW!

 

That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I work at a dealer for benz and this crap would not happen. IF you had waited til like 200K to change them then it would have been your fault for not following the scheduled interval BUT you took it in well under the recommended interval that Ford had set for this mantenence item so therefore you did nothing wrong. Our dealer would have to eat this no questions about it.

 

At 34,000 I had cam phasers and lifters replaced on my 04 FX4 under warranty and they broke 4 plugs so had to remove heads and I got new plugs, all at no cost to me. The problem is that these problems even occur in the first place. I just sent the service follow up questionaire back to Ford so that will blister their eardrums. I gave the dealer excellent marks but I expressed my growing disatisfaction with the truck. I also got the Honda class action/ warranty extension in my wife's 01 Accord but it has 98,000 and never a problem. I have had 2 Ford trucks in the past 13 years and several warranty/recall issues with each. We have had Hondas for 25 years with 2 minor recall issues and 2 warranty extensions. I hat to have to say it but if Honda would make a real size truck that is what I'd be driving. I keep vehicles 150,000 or more and I have no confidence in what the F150 will be like at that point - I know thw Honda will still be going strong.

 

Dude, I feel for you, I real, really do. I would be SOOOOO PI$$ off and would go right to the top if I had to in order to get that issue resolved, BUT…

You just mentioned 3 engine mods (okay, bolt ons). If anyone on this forum is willing to modify their drive train b4 the warranty expires, then not expect any dealership to use that as a scape-goat, well, they are just kidding themselves. It's analogous to calling Dell to have them help you fix a computer problem, yet you put a new CPU on the motherboard a month ago. They will tell you "too bad". Obviously your mods have nothing to do with a broke sparkplug, but if you are going to take a modded motor into the dealership for under-warranty drivetrain service, either remove your mods or roll your dice. That simple. No rebuttals please, if you mod your motor, don't EXPECT anything to be warranteed (again, please note the word "expect").

I purchased an extended warranty. I have no drivetrain mod now nor planned. I therefore have zero concerns. Too me, it's peace-of-mind. I know others here feel the need for more HP, or louder exhaust. These folks inevitably add headers, CAI, Edge…..the list can go on. Hat's off to those who want to make an awesome truck even better, but I personally think my truck is perfect the way it sits currently.

If I were you, I would make every effort short of getting an attorney, and if it boils down to that then maybe you need to pursue that too. I think the dealer may feel safe in their stance given your engine mods, but I still would not let that stop me since they were working on your motor when the problem happened. If you took a car to a tire shop to have new tires put on and they scratched your wheel really bad while removing the tire, I would fully expect them to replace the wheel.

Please, do NOT let this rest. I try to be unbiased and keep an opened mind (hence the engine mods vs warranty rant above), but this is just cut-n-dry. They are responsible. Period. For your peace of mind, I spoke to my uncle (he's assistant attorney general for the state of IL). He thinks this is a no brainer. Ford broke the plug, Ford needs to return the vehicle to you in working order.

Good luck, and may the force be with you,
Robert the awesomest

 

Hey bud I'm in illinois too. Well maybe they are looking at what you paid for and dont care I know people are snobs and dont give but be persistent.

 

Hi supersport1985,

Forgive me, but I’m having a hard time understanding what you wrote? It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Not trying to be an ****, just want to know what you are trying to say. Was the first sentence directed to me, and the second sentence directed to "xlint1"? If that's the case, then I think I got it.

Have a good one,
Robert

 

I appreciate the support from you guys, really. I need people who have got burned to speak up, so collectively I can say I don't have a problem, WE have a problem! And now you have a problem. As far as the mods, I did them after my 36K warranty was up. I know they won't warranty their work because of them, but I need the best gas mileage I can get. I drive almost a hundred miles a day for work. Rock and a hard place I know. This is a precursor to what most of you will be in for eventually.

 

Contact YOUR states Attorney General on this matter. I have resolved many of my customer complaints/wrong doings by doing such. There is no one that likes to have the AG office on there ****!

 

As far as your aftermarket parts being a "scape-goat" for the dealer, take this into consideration:

US Code - Title 15, Chapter 50, Sections 2301-2312

Legally, a vehicle manufacturer cannot void the warranty on a vehicle due to an aftermarket part unless they can prove that the aftermarket part caused or contributed to the failure in the vehicle (per the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)).

 

Maybe I am missing something obvious here but from what I read in the original post is that the truck was brought in under a maint. service, not a warrenty service, where the owner expected to pay $150 for the service.

The service techs messed up while conducting this said service and their negligence cost $2400 to undo. I wouldn't even talk warranty but I would consult lawyers as the dealer's negligence was the root cause of all the additional work. Many Lawyers offer free consulting and if they see a case you can sue for legal costs on top of your actual cost... hum add in your time and pain.

I had a simular case back in the early '80s with a ford dealer outside of Ft. Bragg and as soon as the dealer was served from my lawyer I was refunded all costs + my legal fees with in a few weeks for repair of the T-Bird I owned and had taken in for service.

 

Copy / Paste / File !!! THANKS!

 

The talk of warranty came about because the service manager had another under warranty, and couldn't get Ford to put it through. So, me at 53K DEFINATELY wasn't under coverage. Just saying they won't even cover those of you who are. They are in denial, of any wrong doing.