Rants, Raves, and Praise → Re: [Rant] My 2005 Ford Escape Escapade & general

said by David:

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I can understand them charging me for that too, however when I paid for them to fix it and the problem still remains it draws attention in my mind as "Was this really the problem to begin with?" Plus another question "why did it take 3 other times to fix the same problem?"

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Lemon Law??

I would also write a letter to corporate headquarters (care of the president) and inform them that not only has this one dealership lost you as a (multiple) Ford customer, but they've lost both families, friends, etc.

I thought about the lemon law, but then again more time wasted for a lost cause. I figure cut the loss, and let it become someone else's problem. Hell I will even copy the service reciepts and give it to the next owner. Least then he has a decent fight on his/her hands. Heck, at that point I can only pray a city attorney gets it, that would be an interesting show I would pay to watch.

I sent them the survey sheet back with my general experiences and what I thought.I dought if I hear anything. Would be interesting to see though but I am not betting on it. Who knows they might even sent those anonymous PR drones here to post and state I am lying anyway. My thought to that would be "Sure, and it mysteriously came to your shop four times for the same problem, and you were paid for it... hmmmmm. "

So I figure at this point the best fight I do have is just to get rid of it all together, least then they make just about no interest in me and the vehicle in general.

said by David:

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I thought about the lemon law, but then again more time wasted for a lost cause. I figure cut the loss, and let it become someone else's problem. Hell I will even copy the service reciepts and give it to the next owner. Least then he has a decent fight on his/her hands. Heck, at that point I can only pray a city attorney gets it, that would be an interesting show I would pay to watch.

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It's interesting how easily you're willing to dump the vehicle on someone else, even with the paperwork. If you insist on handing it in, do it at a dealership and just as you're driving off with the new vehicle hand them the paperwork for the 'lemon' and say 'I just found these and thought you should have them'. The dealership will have the ability to get it fixed much better than an individual.

Or sell it at a greatly reduced cost. I just bought a used car from a person and got quite a surprise that in addition to the tires, it needed all four brakes done and the right front bounced like a rubber ball over 65mph. The bouncing was fixed with the brake job and new tire, but not before also having to replace the studs and special lug nuts because the idiot who put it on previously had crossed the threads and one bolt actually came off. If I had bought through a dealership the tires would have already been done and probably the tires. Fortunately I paid much less for the car than the going rate and had left a buffer for repairs.

Even if you don't keep it, you should probably forward a set of the papers to the city attorney before you sell it. They may have other reports about the dealership and first owners have much more leverage then second owners.

I still may do this but it will definatley be after I trade it in. Maybe a week or so afterward, least they can have the joys I had. Hell, they might even take it back to koetting and have them repair it fully. Who knows, at that point I won't care.

It isn't that I am willing to just dump it off, it actually drives quite nice, and the Front Wheel drive did fantastic in the snow and ice this seasonal year. If it was not for the fact that I cannot pull the key out of the ignition, or the fact the gear selector still moves even when the vehicle is off I would probably keep it. Then again, what other underlying problems are with the vehicle that I have not found yet? That is a question I don't want to pay in the long run to have answered. I would rather cut my losses and come out ahead in the long run.

If you trade it in, you won't know who buys it to give it to. If you sell it privately or try to, you think a potential buyer will still be interested if you give them this story ?? If you give them this stuff after the sale, I don't know if they could have the sale voided. Buyer's remorse ?? I know a house and a car are two very different things, but if I sell a house knowing the roof leaks, yet I don't tell the buyer it leaks, I will be liable. I don't know how big Granite City is or how busy the prosecutor is, but in 9 out of 10 cities, they'll politely tell you that they don't have time for this. For one, this is a civil matter, a private arrangement between you and the dealer, and they won't get involved.

Well then again I go back to the point that Koetting ford made, if they don't think it is a problem why should I think there is one? I will use their unprofessionalism and lack of knowledge of my vehicle to my advantage. After all they told me it was fixed, I can play dumb as well.

What I meant by that is if the City attorney buys the car from the dealer (a wishful funny). I don't privately sell vehicles, I am looking at trading it in at this point no private party sales. We can drop that angle right at the table.

Biggest mistake was.. buying a Ford! Dont make it worse and buy a GM!

the bun, who remembers her Ford Escort and its continual repair bills and ridiculous electrical system far too well

I'll second that! I sold enough GM pieces of [poo] to never ever want to own a GM car. Even. Maybe a GM truck, but I'd want a bumper to bumper warranty the whole time.

The cheaper Ford cars aren't worth much of a look, but I do like their larger cars.

Chrysler, ever since the Germans invaded, makes some truly awesome products. Lots of Mercedes-Benz parts lurking under those Mopars these days.

I guess this is for for future reference. I know a little about car dealerships as my cousins own a few.

Lemon Laws vary from state to state. I have used the the Lemon Law in Massachusetts and it worked for me. I think I sent the Lemon Law Letter to a special address for the manufacturer, the dealer, and the "zone" rep. I sent it Fedex so I would have proof that it got there. The zone rep is the interface between the dealer and the manufacturer. In Mass. a Lemon Law letter puts the dealership on a 14 day (I think) timer to either fix the problem your problem, refund your money or replace the car. They don't like to refund your money or replace the car.

i had a squeak in a brand new Jeep. The dealership was non-responsive to say the least. I took it in 3 times and they made no progress. I told the service manager I was going to write a Lemon Law letter and he said "go ahead I don't care".

1 day after I wrote the letter, the zone rep called me up, told me they had to get the car in immediately. A loaner car was provided, no charge. We all went for a test drive. They heard the noise I was complaining about and agreed it needed to be fixed. 2 days latter they fixed it. We went for another test drive and we all agreed it was fixed.

Short, simple, sweet. I guess saying "your mileage may vary" would be too cute.