Ok, The day I bought my truck I test drove it. The steering wheel was off of center a bit. Before I signed any papers on my purchase I said throw it on the alignment rack and straighten it up. They put it on the alignment machine and align the front end. I do all the paper work for the purchase. By the time we are done with the paper work it pretty late and the shop was closed. Well, I dive the truck home and the steering wheel is still of center. The next day is Sunday and the shop at the dealership won't be open so I can't take it back the next day. Anyway, get home and it's dark so I put the new truck in the garage. The next day, Sunday, I wash the truck. I'm cleaning the rims and I notice a mark in the rim, a little one. I blow it off as a production flaw and go to the next rim. The next rim has the same mark in it except that on closer inspection I see four of these marks on the rims, all four rims. The alignment system, the part that hangs on the wheel to get the measurments for the fron and rear wheel alignment put these marks in the rims.
So, today I take the truck in to have the steering wheel straightened out and I bring up the marks in the rims. The service manager says that is what happens. They can't do anything about the marks and I have to live with it.
What I want to know it had this happened to anyone else. If so, did you just live with it or did you get new rims. If I want to press the issue should I call Ford customer service and SVT?
I was basically told that the alignment machine was purchased according to what Ford told this dealership they had to buy.
What it comes down to for me is I paid alot of money for my Lightning and when I agreed to buy it, the rims didn't have marks in them. Am I being to picky of do I have a valid complaint?
Any help with the direction I should go with this will be appreciated.
Thanks
John

 

I would definitely not live with it. Call SVT and tell them what happened. Hopefully they will be reasonable and somehow get you new rims.

good luck

 

i would call svt and complain and when ford sends the thing were u grade them and put how well they treated u just give it to them hard and complain your a** off good luck

 

They basically said don't be a whiner. SVT called the dealship, talked to the Service manager who looked at my rims today and told SVT that the marks were very small and it took 3 guys to find them.
I said that's weird, to the SVT guy because the Service manager knew what I was talking about over the phone. The 3 guys were me, the service manager and another guy that didn't even look at the marks on the rims.
I was told by SVT to take it to the general manager if I wanted to.

 

I say talk to the General Manager, If its a Scratch that was on the rims when you got it then they should replace them

 

I wouldn't settle for that BS. Fight it till you win.

-Mike

 

Just to let everyone know, after talking with the service manager again today, then talking with Hayward Fords Customer service rep and then onto Ford Customer service. Talking with three people at Ford Customer service, the third person told me that Ford, not SVT, Not Hayward Ford was going to purchase four new rims for my truck.

All I want to say is it seems to me that Ford is really trying with the customer service part of becoming better at serving loyal customers.
Thanks Ford for the great customer care.
John

 

Somewhere in the manuals that come w/ the vehicle it states to look for flaws in the vehicle and if you find any contact your dealer w/in 7 days (I think it's 7) after purchase.

BTW, that alignment system is ancient. All new ones have units that HANG on the outside lip of the rip instead of scarring it up on the underside of the lip. It's sad to know that some manufacturer of those alignment machines actually designed it do scar rims.

BTW, I had two scratches on my new '02 black when I bought it. I have yet to take it in, but I notified the dealer before I drove it off the showroom floor (yes, they let me drive it out, hehe), and they are going to take care of it for me whenever I get around to taking it back.

BfB