Warning: Long anti-dealer rant ahead.

Took my 2000 Lightning to the largest dealer in my state, one of the largest in the southeast, for the clunk and a few other minor warranty issues. They are an official SVT dealer as well and blueoval certifed.

1. My main goal was to get the official clunk fix (even if it doesn't work) and get the front end re-aligned.
2. I tell the SM about the clunk TSB, and ask him to go ahead and order the parts.
3. He says "no way" we will not order parts ahead of time. I called SVT and they said pre-ordering parts is not to be expected.
4. SM made me wait 2 weeks for an appointment.
5. My appointment is for 8 a.m. so I left the truck at the dealer the night before. I call at 2 p.m. the next day, they admit they haven't even looked at it yet.
6. I finally go and take my unfixed truck back after three days of waiting. Parts are on backorder they say.
7. Fast forward to the present, parts are in, have a new appointment for next week.
8. Grand total waiting time for 1 bolt, 2 washers, and an alignment to be installed, 5 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!

This is probably my last Ford ever. I will not put up with this type of bull**** anymore. This is supposedly one of Ford's premier dealerships, and this is the way they treat SVT customers.

END OF RANT

 

Did you purchase your L from them? If not that may be the answer some Dealers will put you on the back burner, in a way of getting even with you for not buying it from them? They will service it but they take their time! I bought mine across my state line and my local dealer frowns when I bring it in.

Oscar,

 

FIND ANOTHER DEALER

Your story sounds like the service guys at the dealer where I bought mine. Doing a little research I found that thier serivce dept had been undersized for years and the owner is too cheap to expand so they make it a habit of treating service customers like crap. They have TOO much work so they are happy to make you wait or even better GO away.

After going to Ford Car Club show I found a differnt local dealer that treats people like they want the business.

Vote with your feet.

Good Luck
Doug

 

Print this and smile whilest hand it to the "Service" Manager.

Tell him Speedin Bob and Johnny Cash say have a nice day.

 

What I would do is have them give you the number of the customer service rep[zone rep] and call him or her and tell them the story.Next time they see you they WILL have a better aditude toward you.It worked for me.

 

No, I did not buy the L at this dealer. I was living in another state at the time of purchase. Speaking of this issue, I actually talked to the dealership owner and he admitted to me that I got put to the back of the line because my L was not purchased at his dealership. I told him: "Well, thanks for nothing, when Ford sells a vehicle it has a nationwide warranty. I was not told at the time of purchase that if I move I will have to put up with ****ty service for the remainder of the warranty."

 

Ruslow, Is there a number I can call at Ford to get in touch with a customer service rep.

I don't want to have to talk to this dealer anymore about it. I want to go straight to Ford.

 

Not all dealers treat you badly. Mine had me out by noon during my "clunk" repair. 30,000 mi. service, it was ready by 2:00 PM.

 

If you have one in your area look for a dealer that has won the Presidents' Award. There are alot of Blue Oval dealers around here but very few Presidents' Award dealers. Its no guarantee but definately makes your odds of getting better service better.

 

You mentioned "in the southeast" and someone else mentioned "the President's Award"-----if you are in Ga., anywhere near to atlanta-------Gene Evans Ford, Union City,Ga. is a 'President's Award' dealer. I bot my L there but have not been back for any service(haven't needed any yet). Might give them a call?

Good luck,

Dan

 

Never go to any dealership that takes two weeks to get you in. Number one they are backed up because they don't have enough mechanics and they ones they have probably aren't very good so they get lots of comebacks which makes the problem even worse. The reason they don't have enough or any good mechanics is A: they don't pay the going wages for good mechanics and B. They are A$$holes to work for and all the good mechs leave. Talk with other L owners in your area. They will tell you where to take your truck and where NOT to take your truck. Going to the biggest dealership is certainly not valid reasoning in my opinion. All that means is they sell a lot of units. It does not mean they can fix anything. We have a big one like that here called lawrence Marshall. They are a Ford, Chevrolet, & Dodge dealer. I wouldn't go there for service on a bet.
noelvm

 

No doubt about this!

In Columbus, MS their Ford dealer there won the President's award. I was up there staying w/ a friend when I broke my crank bolt off inside of the crank tip overtightening my aftermarket pulley. That dealer FIXED it FREE and never even said a word about it being a different bolt in there than factory.

They even pre-ordered my leather seat covers (had 20K miles on the car too) because I said they were cracking (they were, but still that is VERY odd for a dealer to do that for leather), they came in but I never went back up to get them.

My paint on the right rear corner of the bumper was spider cracking and they were going to call in a painter and go through the proper procedures to get Mystic paint and and fix it. I couldn't wait for that, but at least they were going to.

They never bitched or moaned and they always did what I asked them.

BfB

 

Yes there is it should be in the back of the owners manual.I think. But I would go back to the dealer and ask him,mainly the general manager,that way they know that you are pissed and might want to remedie this before it gets that far.You would be surpriced at what they would do to keep you from talking! But then again they might not even care.If that is the case call for sure.Stan

 

mracer:

For several years now I have taken my Fords to the local Lincoln Merc dealer for service. They have always treated me as if I had a Towncar ( I have had Mustangs and F-150’s). They meet you at the Car when you arrive and when they see you coming into the casher’s office they go and get the vehicle and bring it to the service desk area. Open the door for you and away you go.
I had my L worked on for the Clunk (described in another thread), they even parked it in the spot reserved for the owner of the business next to the service desk so no one would paw it… Maybe it is just this town, but the service bay at the Lincoln Merc dealer is a 100 times cleaner than the cleanest Ford dealer. And we got some that I wouldn’t walk through. The Service writer use to work at an SVT dealer north of here. So he knows about L's
About every third or forth trip I bring two dozen donuts for mechanics. It’s a small cost for such a huge reward.
One Friday night coming home, my f-150 Lariat started to miss. I called up on a Saturday morning and told the Service Writer that I needed the truck on Sunday. He said bring it over and he would work it in. I got there at 8:00am. He called at Noon and said it was ready. The replaced the coil pack on #4 and put in new plugs all under warranty of course.

Now the SVT dealer here is a totally different story…. I wont go into that because I will start ranting…..



David