[mmoretti]

Word of warning to everyone. I am the one going through **** with my car and dealership.


I have bought 6 new cars in my lifetime and have never (been very lucky) had any issues with any of them requiring service. I've only taken my car for oil changes or out of warranty work(non dealer)


I very stupidly trusted my car dealerships service department. Since I had never had to go through anything like I have been with a car I was completely ignorant about some things.


My car has significant and abnormal issues from delivery in December 2014. I attempted to work with the dealership where I purchased my car. I brought my car in as well as them coming and picking up my car at my home for service multiple times in the months of December, January, and February, and March. There were multiple issues reported, some fixed some not addressed to this day.


I called the dealership to get copies of my service records and they are literally DENYING my car was in for the service appointments and that I reported the issues. Can you believe that? We have repeatedly asked for them to correct this but they refuse saying they need signed service docs...Well you guessed it, they NEVER gave me anything to sign. Even when I asked them upon dropping off a loaner car the tech said "oh no don't worry about it" They will not answer me as to why they did not document everything going one (we all know the reason for that -lemon).


So everyone, Do not walk out of your dealership without complete signed documentation of ANY issue you report or get repaired. Insist on it. And make sure it says what you want it to say. I did not know and again trusted the dealership to be decent. Hard lesson learned. Luckily I do have phone records, emails and voicemails I was able to pull from an old phone backup (BTW Wondershare Dr FONE is worth every penny to anyone with a smartphone) that should help us expose the dealer's inappropriate practices.


Please don't trust any dealer when it comes to this stuff. Our bad for being nice trusting people, this is what we get.

 

[golferman44]

Thank goodness for email. We had a "minor discrepancy" with our dealership too. When I suggested to my wife that we call the dealership, she said she'd rather send an email so that she had documentation. Of the two of us, I tend to be the more trusting one.

I can't believe that your dealership didn't give you the service record every time it was in for service. If you can prove that, and it appears that you can, that alone should tell Ford something. When Ford calls, just remember to be calm; try not to be emotional.

 

[mmoretti]

very hard not to be emotional when I start talking about it. Its hard when you know someone is doing this to you purposely all the while telling you they are helping you. And I am upset with myself for being trusting and stupid. They knew what they were doing and its obviously not their first rodeo with this type of thing. They would never answer our emails and push us to call. Even so far as getting us to call and email personal (outside of Lincoln emails and numbers) We always insisted on email to document too but our questions are just ignored in email. I've been told by legal no answer is an answer in itself... Like I said before extremely SHADY. That's what we get here in NJ. No wonder we get such a bad rep here, people really do suck. If we could move (business) we would.

 

[golferman44]

very hard not to be emotional when I start talking about it. Its hard when you know someone is doing this to you purposely all the while telling you they are helping you. And I am upset with myself for being trusting and stupid. They knew what they were doing and its obviously not their first rodeo with this type of thing. They would never answer our emails and push us to call. Even so far as getting us to call and email personal (outside of Lincoln emails and numbers) We always insisted on email to document too but our questions are just ignored in email. I've been told by legal no answer is an answer in itself... Like I said before extremely SHADY. That's what we get here in NJ. No wonder we get such a bad rep here, people really do suck. If we could move (business) we would.

After what you have been through, I know it will be difficult to put a check on your emotions, but do the very best that you can.

I absolutely agree that no reply to your questions from the dealership is a reply in and of itself.

Another piece of advice, under no circumstances should you tell them (the dealership or the Ford rep) that you have or are considering taking legal action. Once you do that, whoever you are talking to will immediately clam up for fear that anything they say or do could be used by you.

 

[mmoretti]

yes, been telling my husband to be very careful about that. I know because they told us directly too if we contact legal them they cut off all dealings with us.... We are consulting now and do not know what we are going to do until advised. I am hoping it does not have to get to that point.

 

[golferman44]

yes, been telling my husband to be very careful about that. I know because they told us directly too if we contact legal them they cut off all dealings with us.... We are consulting now and do not know what we are going to do until advised. I am hoping it does not have to get to that point.

The dealership told you that? How did that even come up? If you didn't bring it up, it seems to me that they are implicating themselves just by saying that.

 

[mmoretti]

Golferman this dealership is either SO STUPID or they have Lincoln backing them and they are blatant with no fear. Wait until you hear the rest ������

 

[AU MKC]

isn't their a non arbitration form that everyone signed at delivery?
Most dealers do but some don't.
May not be relevant in this case but it might

 

[mmoretti]

I probably signed one..what does that mean exactly? I am so new to all of this, never had an issue with any new car purchased before...

 

[TRU_BLU]

I remember signing one last week when I purchased my car. Wow it's been a week now!


Anyways, I remember language being in there if there was arbitration it would be done at the arbitrator's office located on Broadway NYC. Most corporations do this to avoid people from easily going through the legal hearing process since it is inconvenient and costly. If you are serious about taking legal actions, you need to have a lawyer involved to fight for you along with as much evidence as possible.


I agree with what others said, don't mention any legal action until you have enough evidence and ready.

 

[mmoretti]

Working with Ford now and will see if they come through to help. Trying to avoid legal if at all possible, we're not litigious, and have been unbelievably patient just trying to work with the dealership. I just wanted to buy a car :-(


We have 2 years to collect and document the problem in our state(or 18,000 miles which should be about 2 years for me) to receive full or partial compensation or another car should my problems persist -sad to say I don't know if I'd want another car from Lincoln not because of the defect (which can happen to any manufacturer) but the because of the heck I had to go through to get there.


Love your Black Label, had fully intended going Black Label for the new MKX I was going to buy as an upgrade in a year or so....but don't know how I can possibly do it now no matter how much I like it...
Still hoping something good might come out of it eventually so it can be salvaged...

 

[golferman44]

Working with Ford now and will see if they come through to help. Trying to avoid legal if at all possible, we're not litigious, and have been unbelievably patient just trying to work with the dealership. I just wanted to buy a car :-(


We have 2 years to collect and document the problem in our state(or 18,000 miles which should be about 2 years for me) to receive full or partial compensation or another car should my problems persist -sad to say I don't know if I'd want another car from Lincoln not because of the defect (which can happen to any manufacturer) but the because of the heck I had to go through to get there.


Love your Black Label, had fully intended going Black Label for the new MKX I was going to buy as an upgrade in a year or so....but don't know how I can possibly do it now no matter how much I like it...
Still hoping something good might come out of it eventually so it can be salvaged...

I sure hope that Ford can help you. I just don't see how they think this can be normal even under less than desirable road conditions. Little rocks and sludge should not be able to enter your vehicle.

 

[mmoretti]

That's what they are saying.... I also have extensive damage to my rocker panels right before where the plastic on the wheel wells is destroyed from the rocks. Interesting in that we met and noted the damage with the dealer in a meeting at the dealership the second week of April. It is now approximately one month later and there is clearly MORE damage to both panels and the plastic as well. The damage continues even though our roads are clean (as can be for roads) The rocks are still getting in the doors to this day. Since there are much less rocks it is only noticeable when the weather is wet and they stick inside rather than fall out, but hey are obviously STILL battering the bottom sides and wheels of the car. I just sent them photos on May 7th. I'm literally hesitant to drive my new car. Can you believe that?!?! I'm at wits end. Told I would not hear from Ford rep until approximately mid week next week so I sit and wait again. :-(

 

[mmoretti]

Sorry, not rocker panels the whole back panel behind the passenger door before the wheel well. The paint is damaged from the bottom up towards the top of the back panel. Not sure how to describe it. I can't post anymore pictures. My car is black so what you see is a whole area of both grey specks and chips in the paint. Again like my plastic it looks like it was sprayed with a gray spray paint. Its from repeated battering of rocks and gets grayer and grayer with more specks as rocks keep hitting it. Last month it was about 10-20 light specks, now its mostly covered and makes all my paint look gray. Does anyone know what that could be from?