Who has fought a manufacture? Wisdom please. I have got conflicting information.

M

Mtnbiker

Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
82
This time it has been at a dealer for 67 days and counting.
In Va. 2022 STOCK FORD MACH 1 Mustang. Started having 10R80 transmission problems at 2000 miles now the car is at 9000 miles.
How long can the dealer keep my car without fixing it, or fixing it?
How long before the manufacturer paid enough money for a new engine or transmission? I am thinking I need to pay Suncoast or some high quality shop to build my dung pile 10R80, or buy a quality fully built rock solid transmission from an independent shop or transmission specialist.
I talked to most of the trans. Specialists around here and they just remove and replace. The biggest in my area said the last 3 new 10R80 they got from Ford 1 lasted a month and the other 2 lasted 2 months.
Who has tried the better Business Bureau?
Who has tried their State Attorney General?
Who took it to court?
Other options?
Your results?
Thank you.
 
I’m assuming this is covered under warranty and the dealer isn’t trying to deny warranty coverage?

If this is the case you can check your states lemon law. If the dealer is denying warranty coverage arbitration is your next step.
 
Last edited:
I fought Ford w/o an attorney back in 1987 and won. It took several months and probably 20 trips to the dealer for an intermittent stalling problem with an 87 E-150 4.9L I bought new. Their incompetent techs were unable to resolve the problem and often claimed they couldn't get the vehicle to stall when they had it. They billed Ford for warranty claims in excess of the cost of the van. I kept going back, threatening to sue them, telling customers my problem and their inability to fix it. I also called and wrote to Ford corporate and ultimately wore them down.

Finally I got a call from a big wig from Ford Corporate telling me how much they allegedly spent trying to fix my van. I told them if they had competent techs things might have been different. They asked me what I wanted and told them another van that ran right. They ended up taking it back, paid me for what I put into customizing it and replaced it with a factory ordered 88 E-150 which I still have.

See if you can get a free consult from a lemon law attorney in your state, or do your own research and give it a shot yourself. I have a feeling the age of the vehicle might work against you. Good luck.
 
Every state's law is different.

Ask around for consumers' attorney recommendations. Read your contract if there is a mandatory arbitration clause.

BBB is not an official government agency. Have your paper trail handy, make a journal of everyone who you've talked to and what they said.
 
Mtnbiker said:
This time it has been at a dealer for 67 days and counting.
In Va. 2022 STOCK FORD MACH 1 Mustang. Started having 10R80 transmission problems at 2000 miles now the car is at 9000 miles.
How long can the dealer keep my car without fixing it, or fixing it?
How long before the manufacturer paid enough money for a new engine or transmission? I am thinking I need to pay Suncoast or some high quality shop to build my dung pile 10R80, or buy a quality fully built rock solid transmission from an independent shop or transmission specialist.
I talked to most of the trans. Specialists around here and they just remove and replace. The biggest in my area said the last 3 new 10R80 they got from Ford 1 lasted a month and the other 2 lasted 2 months.
Who has tried the better Business Bureau?
Who has tried their State Attorney General?
Who took it to court?
Other options?
Your results?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
I think that tactic has to do with Lemon Law guidlines having to do with the amount of times they work on the same issue. If they keep it. It looks like once.
 
You have multiple options:

- Initiate a formal complaint with the Ford Customer Service (or whatever they call it) and insist upon starting arbitration. Look into the details in your warranty booklet; all that stuff is in there.

- Contact your state Atty General; investigate the "lemon law" for your state

- Seek out a competent atty well versed in vehicle consumer protection laws
 
Hiring an attorney would be my last choice. Once you take that step the defendants' attorney will advise them to take no further action until it's required by the court. In other words, no further progress occurs. Your car, your choice.
 
Mtnbiker said:
This time it has been at a dealer for 67 days and counting.
In Va. 2022 STOCK FORD MACH 1 Mustang. Started having 10R80 transmission problems at 2000 miles now the car is at 9000 miles.
How long can the dealer keep my car without fixing it, or fixing it?
Click to expand...
I don't believe there is any one answer; this likely depends on the situation and the state you reside in.

Mtnbiker said:
How long before the manufacturer paid enough money for a new engine or transmission?
Click to expand...
None of us are likely to know that answer. We're not privy to the true "cost" of the OEM. Further, just because there is some value $X, doesn't mean they are smart enough to see the cheapest route. OEMs are behemoth entities and typically one hand has no idea what the other is doing.

Mtnbiker said:
I am thinking I need to pay Suncoast or some high quality shop to build my dung pile 10R80, or buy a quality fully built rock solid transmission from an independent shop or transmission specialist.
Click to expand...
That's up to you, but it's unlikely you'd be reimbursed by corporate Ford for aftermarket solutions.

Mtnbiker said:
I talked to most of the trans. Specialists around here and they just remove and replace. The biggest in my area said the last 3 new 10R80 they got from Ford 1 lasted a month and the other 2 lasted 2 months.
Click to expand...
Not sure that proves anything one way or another.

Mtnbiker said:
Who has tried the better Business Bureau?
Click to expand...
The BBB works reasonably well for smaller businesses who count solely on local business reputation, and only if they give a hoot about their BBB rating.
Large companies basically ignore the BBB.

Mtnbiker said:
Who has tried their State Attorney General?
Click to expand...
I have, many years ago. However, the first thing I was told to do was attempt to resolve the issue via the OE arbitration process. Only after that would my state AG get involved.

Mtnbiker said:
Who took it to court?
Click to expand...
I have not. It's expensive and what you might get in satisfaction from the OE after many months of wrangling will be eaten up by your atty costs, which you may or may not be able to recoup from the Court Order.

Mtnbiker said:
Other options?
Click to expand...
As I said before, use the arbitration process which is detailed in the warranty booklet.

Mtnbiker said:
Your results?
Click to expand...
I was able to get my dealer to give me top $$$ trade in for my car I was having issues with. I traded it for a different model and never had any problems. After I traded it in, they decried the problem (which they denied existed after several trips to their service dept). I just said "Well, it's your problem now."


 
When I was having AC issues on my Forester I consulted a few lemon law attorneys and unfortunately I didn't have a case.
7 warranty trips to the dealer in 3 years ... Because the same component didn't fail enough times, I didn't have a case.
 
Mtnbiker said:
This time it has been at a dealer for 67 days and counting.
In Va. 2022 STOCK FORD MACH 1 Mustang. Started having 10R80 transmission problems at 2000 miles now the car is at 9000 miles.
How long can the dealer keep my car without fixing it, or fixing it?
How long before the manufacturer paid enough money for a new engine or transmission? I am thinking I need to pay Suncoast or some high quality shop to build my dung pile 10R80, or buy a quality fully built rock solid transmission from an independent shop or transmission specialist.
I talked to most of the trans. Specialists around here and they just remove and replace. The biggest in my area said the last 3 new 10R80 they got from Ford 1 lasted a month and the other 2 lasted 2 months.
Who has tried the better Business Bureau?
Who has tried their State Attorney General?
Who took it to court?
Other options?
Your results?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/index.php/tips-info2?view=article&id=158
 
BMWTurboDzl said:
https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/index.php/tips-info2?view=article&id=158
Click to expand...
Which would suggest protection for 18 months after delivery to the consumer.

It does also specify used vehicles may be different, although I can't see the Subaru case they cite.

So basically, OP needs to parse out if his used vehicle even qualifies, AND if he took delivery over 18 mos ago, he's likely out of luck. As always, a local attorney should be consulted rather than listening to some yahoo on the internet.
 
seeing that its a 2022 and its 2025 I'd say hes out of luck as far as lemon law..
what he might negotiate from ford since they cant seem to fix it is a different answer.
1737748049729.webp
 
there is a video on the tube about a guy that has/had his VW ID4 in the shop for 9 months. No parts were available . he still had to make his payments etc. I am not an attorney, but i believe the lemon laws say a certain amount of fixes in a certain amount of time will lemon it. The issue seems they in your case they can't or don't want to fix it due to whatever reason . So technically you don't qualify for lemon law.

There are plenty of stories of RV owners going through the same thing. The company will fix it it under warranty , they just don't say when.

I have found in many cases that a letter from an attorney holds more weight than a customer . With an attorney , if they know their stuff, they can't just ignore you. Go find an attorney to write you a letter with demands . this usually will get their attention
 
A lot of good info here so I won't repeat it. The problem in these situations is the dealer has more money to fight with, and they have no problem parking a car for weeks or months letting customers wait, until a judge or corporate tells them to take care of the matter. Many times corporate won't pay the dealer, so their hands are tied. These things can wear most people down and force them to punt. Knowing the local laws helps, getting corporate involved might help too. Sometimes contacting the local news can be of benefit, bottom line is persistence, but sometimes nothing pays off.
 
Just remember as soon as a lawyer is mentioned everything will stop and you will eventually deal with their lawyers.

Is there something you want? a buyback? etc?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

69GTX
2001 Lincoln Continental - $5000 repair estimate in front suspension & steering - reasonable?
2 3 4
Replies
76
Views
11K
JHZR2
B
Five Euro Car Myths?
8 9 10
Replies
189
Views
23K
edyvw
T
  • Locked
Massive recall of Toyota vehicles is expanded
2
Replies
23
Views
12K
robbobster
T
  • Locked
Engine noise from light trucks has customers suing GM
Replies
12
Views
3K
wtd
B
  • Locked
Bottled oil sale prices 14.65 cents below canned.
Replies
5
Views
3K
PandaBear
Back
Top Bottom