Ford Dealership troubles?!?!

[jhoch]

hi,

I took my explorer into the ford dealer today for some recall work with the drivers side seat and ran into some other issues. I wanted to see if they are something that everyone else has run into or are they just overstepping their bounds.

1) They never asked me for my registration (I dropped the truck off) and when I came back to pick it up, it was attached to the bill ** someone went through my glove box **

2) They told me that my seat problem was not with the bolts, but that the seat frame was broken, and to fix it would be $300. They also went as far to say that it would not pass inspection in Oct like that, and I should have it taken care of. (even though for some reason it passed inspection in April when the tag I bought it with ran out)

3) They told me they recommended a power steering flush, coolant flush, and fuel system service. Um hello? We're supposed to be putting bolts in the seat. And they also proceeded to tell me that I was past my oil change milage........( i know this, but this can't be helped sometimes)

Does sound like normal, or is my ford dealer just trying to extract money from me because I had a free fix?

thanks
~J

 

[My98xplorer]

Personally i would be kinda ticked if they went through my glovebox. If i just dropped my Explorer off for seat work, there is no reason they should be under the hood of my truck, and definitly not in my glove box. Ive had mine at the dealership many times before and they have never asked for my registration. It sounds to me like they are just trying to get you.

 

[isapascal]

Hi!!

Rip Off

Report that to Ford Company, you never know, maybe they had complaint, about that, and wait for someone else report weird attitude from there dealer!! :fire:

 

[jhoch]

hi,

my wife, who is more elequent with her words, and more blunt, has already written a email to customer service...so we'll see where that goes.

Being a FF, I was kinda upset with this considering we saved a entire line of their 2004 Expeditions the one night someone decided to torch a mustang.

I'm glad i don't go there often, I Just went there because of the recall

~J

 

[Gladi8r]

hi,

my wife, who is more elequent with her words, and more blunt, has already written a email to customer service...so we'll see where that goes.

Being a FF, I was kinda upset with this considering we saved a entire line of their 2004 Expeditions the one night someone decided to torch a mustang.

I'm glad i don't go there often, I Just went there because of the recall

~J

LOL, Must have been at Davidsons Ford!!!! I think they probably just wanted to see what they could get out of you. I can't imagine a seat problem causing trouble with a PA inspection. I take my Ex to a guy just south of Littlestown named Dave Cook. he has always treated me great and his prices are much better than most mechanics in this area. If you want his number, email me and I will hook you up....

Don

 

[jhoch]

OMG.......

That is so funny you knew who I was talking about. I take it you are from this area Gladi8r?

Hmmm, I actually know a good mechanic, right now i need a good price on some seats lol.

~j

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

I definitely suggest going to another dealer. They sound like a rip off to me and they shouldn't go through your glove box for your registration, especially when a recall notice doesn't require the owner's registration unless it's going through a state's inspection.

 

[jhoch]

*test* lol

 

[performancenut]

Keep your focus on the main reason you are there; service departments usually get paid on how much work they do (manager on down) so they obviously try to generate more work. The BMW service department for my wifeeees car is famous for those tactics.

 

[thewishkah]

HAHA I live in NYC and i brought my first generation xlt in for a recall on the rear door lifts they snapped right off the door so i brought it in and the guys like ok we will call u when its ready so 8 hrs later they call me ok your trucks done come in and pick it up i get there and the guys like we had to put new lifts on the door the old ones were no good they are 50$ a piece so i simply replied your beat hes like well you arent taking the truck till its paid in full so i was like ok fine i picked up my cell and infront of him called one of my friends from the police pct near by and asked him to come by so he comes by and hes like whats the problem the guy replies he refuses to pay for the work so i told him it was coverd under recall and that he said it would be free of charge when i dropped it off so my friend says ok so he shouldnt be paying you anything to which they service rep replies the recall only coverd the brakets to mount the lifts so my friend tells him and u went ahead with the other work with out consulting him first? the guy said it needed to be done and we did it so my friend tells him you did work to his car with out his ok so the way i look at it you guys are out of luck on those lifts and that if you want to keep your job give him the keys or im charging you with grand theft auto and that was that never bringing it back there after that cause god knows what they will do to my truck

 

[performancenut]

Dang- it's good you had a cop friend.

 

[stubborn1]

I guess I would be ticked about item #1 - they shouldn't go through your personal belongings without getting permission.

Items #2 and #3 don't seem that far fetched. If the seat frame is broken, they should show you exactly where it is broken and what a new frame is supposed to look like so you can see the difference. No additional repairs should have been made unless you authorized them.

Any good shop will recommend the maintenance items you mentioned in item #3 if they have no record of having the work done before, or if you are past due for the service. I wouldn't agree with the fuel system service, but a PS and coolant flush and fill should be done every three years. The dealership is in business to make money just like everyone else (unless you work for the government). Everyone has the right to say no.

 

[RAZOR]

If you brought your truck in for a recall, and didn't authorize any other work, you don't have to pay for the unauthorized repairs. You have to be notified or have ok'd them to inspect and repair anything before they proceed.