Ford pickup warranty work issues

[oakview]

Have any of you had issues with getting warranty work done on your Ford pickup because of the dealer you purchased it from?  Thankfully, my Ford with its 6.0 liter diesel is gone, but I have a friend who needs some warranty work done on his Ford F-150.  He purchased his pickup at Woodhouse, Blair, NE, and the dealers in central Iowa have refused to do his authorized warranty work.  I had the same problem with my Ford, however, I found a dealer whose head mechanic had previously worked at Woodhouse, so they would repair my truck.  That was my second warranty work problem.  The first time, I found a dealer that would do the work, but they delayed it as long as they could, needed to have me leave it in there, three separate occasions, and didn't fix it properly, ever.  It was a radio/CD player issue.  Out of shear frustration, I took it to a private auto repair shop and spent my own $250.  I called Ford and they said any Ford dealer had to do the warranty work.  When I informed them that several dealers refused, they only said they would look into it.  I was on my own.  Another reason I will never own another Ford. 

 

[Till-Hill]

Only reason I have not bought a truck out at Woodhouse. Cheaper than anyone but when I take a pickup to local Dodge deal they won't touch anything with Woodhouse sticker. Buddy mine has Ford and had same problem. Sure wish I could get one but that warrany stuff means alot......

 

[Tallcool1]

This is becoming more and more of an issue all the time.  Woodhouse is one of the largest dealers in the entire nation, much less Iowa and Nebraska.  Before I opened my own dealership, I used to go head to head with them at least once a week......from 100+ miles away!

Yes, they may be cheaper.  On top of that, they are good guys.  I know them personally, and have for a long time.  Where they really have the edge is in selection.  If you go there and don't find what you want, you are just plain not looking hard enough!

But then you need work done on it, and your local dealer figures "Why should I work on it?  Take it back to Woodhouse!  They were good enough to sell you one, they should be good enough to service it!"

The bottom line......the manufacturer can't "make" the local dealer work on your truck.  All the dealer has to do is tell the factory that they are backed up with work and will get it in 3 weeks from next Friday.

Personally, I never turned away work regardless of where the customer bought it.  I may not have liked it, but it is the only chance I had to make that customer my customer.   

 

[knabe]

Price and having to go to a dealer for service has turned me off to new vehicles.


The diagnostic charge has gotten ridiculous at almost all of them.


I will keep buying used ones. Bought a 2002 f250 7.3 4x4.


Obviously not the power of the new trucks and missing all the stuff you can ruin like a fancy interior.


You would think that at some point, one of the three would make a ranch pickup with an indestructible interior with easy to replace bumpers and body panels and make a roof that doesnt leak and with more user serviceable access. No one likes to be stuck somewhere cause a switch or sensor went bad. Obviously the govenrment has a hand in this as it creates jobs to be so dependent on the dealer.


At this point, i look at repairs as a cheaper payment, insurance is a lot less and i dont feel so paranoid honking my horn getting the cattle to move or cleaning every nook and cranny. Not to mention the cows one can buy.

 

[Mark H]

TallCool1,

If it comes down to it,  what are the Lemon laws in Iowa and Nebraska like?

 

[Doc]

I just back from NADA show, which is the Dealers Assoc. show. Ford brought out their new 2015 F150 all Aluminum truck. It's nice in the fact that with the ecoboost motor it is going to get over 31 mpg, but is going to be a pain on the body repair side. All the panels are glued and riveted on. The shops will have to spend on avg about $50k to have the proper tools to repair these trucks.
Chevy has already turned in their order to Alcoa for aluminum so they can have their aluminum half ton trucks come out in 2018.
I am afraid that a new fender will be crazy on price, let alone a bedside. Paintless dent repair will not work on aluminum .
So these gas mileage regulations are going to really cost the consumer big bucks in the end.

 

[Mark H]

It isn't just the fuel economy standards that has increased the technology input; it also is emissions and consumer demand for  horsepower.  Very few trucks sold today actually used as trucks and their design reflects this.  Hence no wash out interiors and car like handling.
A couple of words of warning on the new turbo DI engines:  If you use the power available you fuel economy will suffer and you will get less milage than in a V8 with cylinder deactivation if pulling. DI turbo engines aren't magic the power still come from burning gas.  Also if you are easy on the trottle to save gas the amount of EGR gases used to run the truck can mean deposit build up in the intake manifolds and on the intake ports.  The only way to remove the deposits is to take the engine apart and clean them off manually or using walnutshells. This is becoming a problem in cars with DI and clean diesel technology.  Also if something braks then repairing them is very expensive sonce so much effort must be given to troubleshooting.  Many dealerships don't want to see these cars come in through the door for repair since they have limited ability to repair them in the first place (no trained techs).
We are atarting to see many high end luxury cars such as BMW and Merecedes get scrapped when only around 7 years old due to repair cost.  I expect tis trend to continue.

 

[Cham2135]

How many people will comment "should have got a Chevy"




We never had good luck with Woodhouse. They seemed to overcharge for mechanical work. We priced a transmission fix from them and it was $1,000 more.
I'm not sure where you are from... But we have had good luck with Stivers Ford in Waukee Ia or Dewey Ford in Ankeny.



Just don't let one problem change your truck brand. Stay ford and you and your wallet will feel better.

 

[jason]

In this economy, I can't see turning down any business, but if they are already busy enough, I guess they can get a way with it.

I am interested in this new ford, anyone know if the weight savings (700lbs) is going in the f250 or f350?  I know they are using aluminum body to save weight.

Also anyone with the ecoboost, are you happy with it?

 

[Tallcool1]

TallCool1,

If it comes down to it,  what are the Lemon laws in Iowa and Nebraska like?

Mark-I am not personally familiar with Iowa, but am in Nebraska. 

In order to have a legitimate Lemon Law claim, you will need the cooperation of a dealer.  Basically, the dealer will help you build your case.

The Lemon Law applies (generally) to vehicles that were purchased NEW.

What constitutes a "Lemon" is really quite simple.  The vehicle must have been taken to an AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY (dealership) 4 times for the EXACT same repair.  The other possibility is that you are without the use of your vehicle for 40 or more days.

Any action under the Lemon Law must be started by written notice to the manufacturer within one year after the expiration of the express warranty terms, or within two years of the date the buyer accepted original delivery of the vehicle, whichever date is earlier.

The manufacturer will either replace the vehicle with a comparable one, or give you back your money less a "reasonable" fee for the use of the vehicle.

I would guess that Iowa is similar.

 

[obie105]

My brother bought a brand new dodge from woodhouse in December and the couple of things that have needed worked on he has gotten done without an issue. Bought my first truck from there and like the dealings I have had. Our local dealerships will shove it up your a** on price.

As for myself we will not own a new pickup my husband trucks and hates the emissions stuff or having to take his semi to Kenworth or cummins to get it plugged into the computer to say what's wrong with it.

 

[knabe]

I am interested in this new ford, anyone know if the weight savings (700lbs) is going in the f250 or f350?  I know they are using aluminum body to save weight.  not "yet"

Also anyone with the ecoboost, are you happy with it?

hunting around, eco-boost seems to be a combination of direct injection into the cylinder allowing colder denser fuel delivery, two turbos, possible elimination of power robbing dampeners, maybe due to better internal balancing of engine design, probably friction reduction everywhere possible, probably dual grind cams.  the weight savings on the truck probably add "real world" performance both in mileage and towing.  they probably reduced revolving mass, so hopefully they didn't weaken everything back of the engine to save mass.


personally, i would like plastic body panels and that are user serviceable and would like it in the matte finish so they didn't have to waste $ on making it look so nice.  they probably have to make some sort of under skin to keep the thing rigid as design probably relies on body panels for rigidity, noise reduction and other things we don't think about. i would think that dimple technology would help aerodynamics.

 

[knabe]

As for myself we will not own a new pickup my husband trucks and hates the emissions stuff or having to take his semi to Kenworth or cummins to get it plugged into the computer to say what's wrong with it.

unfortunately, that is part of reducing diagnostic fraud and also helps record keeping and reduces reporting infrastructure for design flaws, repair/duty cycle.  would like to see the bean counter perspective on all this diagnostic labor taken out of mechanics hands.  obviously people love to complain about false diagnostics and costly repairs that don't fix the problem.

 

[TPX]

As a dealer its in your best interest to fix a truck under warranty even if it wasn't bought there.  We bought a used ford truck from a dealer and after we had a major engine failure we phoned back there to get it towed and fixed and they said they wouldn't even look at it for 2 months (very rude on the phone also when we asked why it would take that long).  I phoned another ford dealer and told them my situation and that I didn't buy the truck from there dealership but I needed help, they sent a tow truck that day and I had my truck back with a new engine in it 3 weeks later and they fully detailed it also (better then the place we bought it from did at the time of purchase).  I know where I will be buying my next truck from and its all because of the service we received. 

 

[oakview]

Thanks for the input.  I suggested to my friend a couple of dealerships he could call and he found one that will do the work.  I understand other dealers' frustrations with Woodhouse.  I helped put together a deal when one Ford dealer purchased another one.  When I needed a pickup, I talked to them and bought two over the years.  They sold out later, but one of the salesmen continued to work for the new dealer.  When I was ready to trade again, I went to him.  This was when Ford, and all the other companies, were offering "family pricing".  I told the salesman what I wanted.  They didn't have it and he said he checked 300 Midwest dealers and couldn't find one.  When I returned to my office, I emailed Woodhouse.  Their response was, "What color do you want?"  I got the truck I wanted, next year's model I might add, and saved several thousand dollars.  I have no complaints about Woodhouse, but see where other dealers might if they are constantly undercut on price.  I try to have my routine service work done where I buy the vehicle.  However, it's a 3 hour drive to Blair.  I wanted to find a local Ford dealer to provide basic maintenance.  After several either refused to do warranty work or jerked me around, the local dealers missed out on a big opportunity to do future business, including selling me my next pickup.  I guess it worked out okay, though.  That 6.0 liter diesel was such a piece of junk no Ford dealer will get my future business.

 

[RyanChandler]

In this economy, I can't see turning down any business, but if they are already busy enough, I guess they can get a way with it.

I am interested in this new ford, anyone know if the weight savings (700lbs) is going in the f250 or f350?  I know they are using aluminum body to save weight.

Also anyone with the ecoboost, are you happy with it?

I drive a 6.4 as my daily driver.  Two months ago, I had it in the shop getting some whiskey dents fixed (also put a Spartan tuner / EGR delete on it which is AMAZING!) so my Dad let me borrow his '14 ecoboost. 

THE ECOBOOST IS JUNK! I pulled a 16ft cattle trailer to South Texas and back - about 700 miles- and averaged 7.5MPG! I've made the trip in the 6.4 several times and it averages about 12mpg.  The ecoboost couldn't even stay in drive much less 6.  The turbos must just be screaming but there is no boost gauge on the cluster so I don't know exactly how many lbs.  The stability was just terrible too- the truck can't handle a 16ft bumper pull w/ 5000lbs of cattle on it.  How they have the truck rated at 20k who knows- you put that kind of weight on there and you'll likely to get thrown off the side of the road. I can't imagine trying to pull a trailer once they make the truck even lighter.  Even w/o a trailer, the truck has no balls and only gets 14-15mpg.  It has decent torque but no acceleration whatsoever.  For a $50k truck, I was disappointed to say the least.

He traded this truck in w/ 13000 miles on it 2 weeks ago and bought a new GMC All Terrain w/ the 6.2.  NOW THIS IS A MAN'S TRUCK! A few grand more, but well worth it! Much better ride, much more throttle response, just a substantially better made vehicle all around. 

 

[knabe]

"What color do you want?"

did they paint it?

 

[obie105]

"What color do you want?"

did they paint it?

Woodhouse when I bought mine was the scone largest dealership in he US. When I bought my trk in just used F250 at the time with a diesel and under 50,000 miles with an extended cab there was 250 trucks. So you could basically pick your color. Now when I said I wanted a 6 speed there was 6 trucks and only 3 that were 4x4 and matched my specs so it was easier then to chose.

 

[knabe]

Now when I said I wanted a 6 speed there was 6 trucks and only 3 that were 4x4 and matched my specs so it was easier then to chose.

interesting commentary on the number of manual transmissions.


why can't all dealers have access to the same search?


curious.  when i bought a honda hybrid a while ago, i wanted a manual transmission.  i went to my local dealer, they wanted to CHARGE me to look up availability.  i immediately left.  went to dealer near work and they immediately located a car and got it to me.

 

[obie105]

Now when I said I wanted a 6 speed there was 6 trucks and only 3 that were 4x4 and matched my specs so it was easier then to chose.

interesting commentary on the number of manual transmissions.


why can't all dealers have access to the same search?




curious.  when i bought a honda hybrid a while ago, i wanted a manual transmission.  i went to my local dealer, they wanted to CHARGE me to look up availability.  i immediately left.  went to dealer near work and they immediately located a car and got it to me.

These are all trucks on there lot! At the time they had 80 acres of trucks since then they have gotten even bigger I know. To look at vehicles you have to have an idea what you want going to just look isn't something you do there.