Ford dealer diagnostic charge to see if AC is covered under Ford premium extended warranty

[Greenbeforeblue]

Once somebody shows you who they are, believe them. Find another dealer in the future.

 

[Zee09]

Who buys a Ford anyway....I mean like really ..
Yeah I know....
An extended warranty is extended fleecing usually

 

[RBT]

Waiving diagnostic charges is an archaic business practice, If the manufacturer wants to cover the diag fee....Fine with me!

If I have to break out diag equipment....I'm getting paid for my time., Repair is a whole other line item!

I understand and agree people need to be paid for the time. But when a customer shows up with a car that is under the original factory warranty, or a factory extended bumper to bumper warranty, and the service advisor starts by saying you have to pay a diagnostic fee of $200 to find out if the repair is covered, it causes the customer unease because it is not only the money but the question of whether I am dealing with someone reputable. After all I signed a contract where the manufacturer agrees to cover everything but wear items and cosmetics pretty much.

The better way to handle the issue is to explain to the customer that the customer doesn’t pay the fee if the repair is covered. I have had the experience, both with Toyota and Ram dealers, Iwhen they act as if the warranty doesn’t exist and then they call you like you won the lottery to tell you that the contract you signed actually means what it says. Honda and BMW dealers, in my experience, have handled this issue with greater skill. The underlying economics are I am sure the same. But one approach makes me feel like I am dealing with shysters and the other approach confirms that I am dealing with people who are reputable.

But to your point I don’t disagree that people should be paid for their time, but it is a customer relationship management issue. ( It is also one of the experiences that makes me less confident about monkeying around with service manual recommendations - if they act this way when something is clearly covered, I sometimes have the feeling I will have an argument on my hands for any sort of divergence from the manual, irrespective of the merit, if that makes sense.)

 

[Pelican]

Well let me be the Devil's Advocate here, the warranty doesn't cover any & all breakdowns, which is what MOST people think, but only those that are caused by a "Manufacturing Deficiency" so IF the malfunction is caused by anything else one's SOL!
Naturally many dealers try to claim it's owner's abuse, charge you and then also claim it under warranty if it qualifies.

 

[GON]

Well let me be the Devil's Advocate here, the warranty doesn't cover any & all breakdowns, which is what MOST people think, but only those that are caused by a "Manufacturing Deficiency" so IF the malfunction is caused by anything else one's SOL!
Naturally many dealers try to claim it's owner's abuse, charge you and then also claim it under warranty if it qualifies.

This is the second time I brought the truck in for warranty repair.

The first time I brought in for a warranty repair, the issue was the DEF heater hose. Dealer (Washington State) claimed the hose failed due to abuse. The dealer wanted $1100 to fix and not cover under warranty (three hours book time labor). I pulled the truck from the dealer right away. Purchased the OEM part online for about $100 USD, and replaced the part in my driveway in under one hour, with no special tools. Very high profit for the dealer and the tech to replace the DEF heater hose. Not so much under warranty.


The issue in this thread is NOT paying a diagnostic fee. The issue is the significant financial reward a dealer makes if they can find a way to have a repair not covered under warranty.

 

[zzyzzx]

I wish I could find a link to it, but yesterday I say a YouTube short about a Nissan with 32K miles on it, clearly still under warranty. Dealer refused to cover it because of an aftermarket battery and air filter. The person ended up using a mobile mechanic who bought a part at said dealer and installed in their parking lot.

 

[Pelican]

This is the second time I brought the truck in for warranty repair.

The first time I brought in for a warranty repair, the issue was the DEF heater hose. Dealer (Washington State) claimed the hose failed due to abuse. The dealer wanted $1100 to fix and not cover under warranty (three hours book time labor). I pulled the truck from the dealer right away. Purchased the OEM part online for about $100 USD, and replaced the part in my driveway in under one hour, with no special tools. Very high profit for the dealer and the tech to replace the DEF heater hose. Not so much under warranty.


The issue in this thread is NOT paying a diagnostic fee. The issue is the significant financial reward a dealer makes if they can find a way to have a repair not covered under warranty.

I get you GON, I too had to face this and was told that IF the problem was covered by Warranty the Diag Fee would by covered, only if not covered by warranty would it be charged. It used to be that if you then proceeded with the repair the fee would be waived, but I guess now they charge it anyway. What gets my goat is that dealers now try to claim that almost nothing is covered, so that they can double dip by having YOU pay for the repair and then ALSO put in a warrant claim on your behalf with the Manufacturer.

 

[CKN]

I get you GON, I too had to face this and was told that IF the problem was covered by Warranty the Diag Fee would by covered, only if not covered by warranty would it be charged. It used to be that if you then proceeded with the repair the fee would be waived, but I guess now they charge it anyway. What gets my goat is that dealers now try to claim that almost nothing is covered, so that they can double dip by having YOU pay for the repair and then ALSO put in a warrant claim on your behalf with the Manufacturer.

If in doubt you have the option of having the manufacturer get involved. I have done it in the past-and it wasn't difficult. I had a Honda Accord where the air bag module went out-well past warranty and the dealer quoted $600.00 (This was several years ago). I thought it was too much and I called Honda Corporate and explained everything. The guy asked what I wanted. I told him "some cooperation". He asked which dealer-I told him. The repair cost dropped 50%.
In warranty cases-it' either covered or it's not. If you think it should be - you have to get others involved. That, unfortunately is the way of the world.
I will gladly pay a one hour "diagnostic fee" if the repair ends up costing several hundreds or over a thousand dollars- and the warranty covers it.
If there is any "double dipping" on the dealer-it's on you.

 

[GON]

Well let me be the Devil's Advocate here, the warranty doesn't cover any & all breakdowns, which is what MOST people think, but only those that are caused by a "Manufacturing Deficiency" so IF the malfunction is caused by anything else one's SOL!
Naturally many dealers try to claim it's owner's abuse, charge you and then also claim it under warranty if it qualifies.

If the vehicle is one week old and 600 miles, and the customer is having the exact issue I have, are the terms and conditions the same for a $200 USD diagnostic fee? If not, why not?

 

[14Accent]

End of the line for that 2019 one.
Time to junk it and buy new. (Planned obsolescence)

By the way..John Deere local dealerships do the EXACT same thing....$135 for a diagnostic fee
(But hey, if you've never "abused the mower, like leaving it out in the rain, then they'll (possibly) apply that to your repair fees.
The mower was $3,400 and an additional $1500 for every possible warranty under the Sun was purchased for it.

EVERY warranty claim so far has been denied. It has 105 hours on it

Not sure where you're taking your mower, but this is most certainly NOT standard practice within our dealer group. My service writers know full well what's covered and what's not as soon as the machine shows up, there's really no reason to charge a "diagnostic" in MOST cases.

As far as your lack of warranty claim success, may I ask what exactly was denied under warranty? I have absolutely no issue pushing things through under warranty, nor does my service manager. In fact, I've got a commercial Z9 in the shop right now with a cracked hydraulic tank. We're covering it for him, no problem. Same with a Z5 that just got it's second hydro under warranty: zero push back and no questions about abuse.

 

[CKN]

Not sure where you're taking your mower, but this is most certainly NOT standard practice within our dealer group. My service writers know full well what's covered and what's not as soon as the machine shows up, there's really no reason to charge a "diagnostic" in MOST cases.

As far as your lack of warranty claim success, may I ask what exactly was denied under warranty? I have absolutely no issue pushing things through under warranty, nor does my service manager. In fact, I've got a commercial Z9 in the shop right now with a cracked hydraulic tank. We're covering it for him, no problem. Same with a Z5 that just got it's second hydro under warranty: zero push back and no questions about abuse.

I buy more new cars than most on here. I have never encountered any of this either. Its the " Twilight Zone" on here with any dealer threads.

 

[MaximumMini]

Not sure where you're taking your mower, but this is most certainly NOT standard practice within our dealer group. My service writers know full well what's covered and what's not as soon as the machine shows up, there's really no reason to charge a "diagnostic" in MOST cases.

As far as your lack of warranty claim success, may I ask what exactly was denied under warranty? I have absolutely no issue pushing things through under warranty, nor does my service manager. In fact, I've got a commercial Z9 in the shop right now with a cracked hydraulic tank. We're covering it for him, no problem. Same with a Z5 that just got it's second hydro under warranty: zero push back and no questions about abuse.

No, it's not the "twilight zone".
Google "John Deere warranty issues" and you'll see you are the exception and not the rule.
Many forums I visit related to JD products are stacked with endless complaints of shady practices and poor products.

Heck, the FTC even sued JD over the Right To Repair.
https://www.thefencepost.com/news/ftc-sues-john-deere-over-right-to-repair-2/

 

[MaximumMini]

I buy more new cars than most on here. I have never encountered any of this either. Its the " Twilight Zone" on here with any dealer threads.

That's a non qualified blanket statement that defies the odds.
How many is "More than most" ?
What type of vehicles (Sedans, trucks etc)?
What manufacturer?
Do you have family or friends working at the dealership in question? Are you a dealer?

Are you saying that you have purchased dozens of new cars in the last 10 years and none have had any problems?
I had a 2023 leased Toyota. Within 2 years the Toyota dealership began charging me on every "routine maintenance" checkup.
Sometimes as much as $1500 for items that were supposedly included in the lease.

The AAA says the actual "Cost of ownership" for pickup trucks in 2025 is around $16,000 annually. I posted a link.

 

[CKN]

That's a non qualified blanket statement that defies the odds.
How many is "More than most" ?
What type of vehicles (Sedans, trucks etc)?
What manufacturer?
Do you have family or friends working at the dealership in question? Are you a dealer?

Are you saying that you have purchased dozens of new cars in the last 10 years and none have had any problems?
I had a 2023 leased Toyota. Within 2 years the Toyota dealership began charging me on every "routine maintenance" checkup.
Sometimes as much as $1500 for items that were supposedly included in the lease.

The AAA says the actual "Cost of ownership" for pickup trucks in 2025 is around $16,000 annually. I posted a link.

Yes-I have purchased a least two dozen new/or barley used cars/SUVs/Cuvs/Trucks over the past several years. some have had issues and were covered under warranty.
Toyota includes two years or 24,000 miles of maintenance. I know I just got rid of a Highlander and the dealer performed two oil changes at no charge.

I was in outside sales and drove 30,000 to 50,000 miles a year-so I wouldn't keep a car long.
I am not a dealer nor have any friends at those establishments.

C

Thread 'Traded in 2022 Highlander-for 2022 Volvo XC60'

May 1, 2025

The subject of "frequent trading" is always interesting and discussing the associated view points that come up with the subject-well here is a case study-

I purchased the Highlander for my wife two years ago. Neither one of us like it-after owning it for a while. There are a myriad of reasons-not limited to how Toyota does things to fasten bumpers on to this particular vehicle/suspension that belongs on a 1973 Buick Electra (with no after market solutions). So-I read elsewhere on the Net how Carmax was giving crazy trade in values. Sent the info to Carmax- AND THEY CAME BACK WITH AN OFFER...

• CKN
• Replies: 43
• Forum: Vehicles

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[14Accent]

No, it's not the "twilight zone".
Google "John Deere warranty issues" and you'll see you are the exception and not the rule.
Many forums I visit related to JD products are stacked with endless complaints of shady practices and poor products.

Heck, the FTC even sued JD over the Right To Repair.
https://www.thefencepost.com/news/ftc-sues-john-deere-over-right-to-repair-2/

Still sounds like an individual dealer issue to me.

Just this morning I had a machine dropped off for service and a complaint of loose steering. The steering complaint was written up as a warranty job right off the bat, however I was unable to find anything wrong with the steering. I was, however, immediately aware of a loud bearing noise coming from the traction drive system that the customer didn't even mention. I had my manager add another warranty segment and replaced BOTH traction drive pulley's without any input from the customer. All he's going to see is a line item on his bill when he gets his mower back showing the work that was completed, free of charge and without issue.

 

[MaximumMini]

Still sounds like an individual dealer issue to me.

Just this morning I had a machine dropped off for service and a complaint of loose steering. The steering complaint was written up as a warranty job right off the bat, however I was unable to find anything wrong with the steering. I was, however, immediately aware of a loud bearing noise coming from the traction drive system that the customer didn't even mention. I had my manager add another warranty segment and replaced BOTH traction drive pulley's without any input from the customer. All he's going to see is a line item on his bill when he gets his mower back showing the work that was completed, free of charge and without issue.

I think I'd be better off driving my mower to your dealership (1500 miles) than taking it to the one near me.
When this one reached EOL, I won't be going with JD again.
Your one dealership may be an exception, but far too many ppl like farmers have been skewered by JD on farm equipment.