Complaint Review: Ford Motor Company

June 18, 2003

I bought a 2002 Mercury Cougar in July of 2002. The car has had one breakdown after another. The car at this point has been in the shop numerous times.

The first time was for the air conditioner. The first time in the shop was July 16,2002. Part had to be ordered took several days. That was fixed satisfactorily.

However, not on all of the occasions were they able to fix my problems right away. I waited for parts to arrive while being told it was ok for me to drive my car, with the check engine light on but not flashing.

The second problem was October 9,2002. The problem was the Mass Airflow Sensor. I got my car back on October 16, 2002.

The third problem started on October 25, 2002. The problem was the Mass Airflow Sensor again, plus Heated Oxygen Sensor. I got my car back this time on November 7, 2002.

The fourth time started on November 12, 2002. Check engine light came on again. Was told I could drive car till parts arrived. Parts arrived November 22, 2002.

This time they replaced the Powertrain Control Module. I was without my car for five days. Car went in on November 22, 2002 came out on November 26, 2002.

The next time was on March 3, 2003. Check engine light came on again. They replaced the Mass Airflow Sensor again (the third one of those). This time they put a flight recorder in my vehicle, and gave me instructions of what to do.

One week later the check engine light came on and I pressed the button just like they instructed me to do. I then drove to the dealership and they removed the recorder, to analyze the information.

I was called and told to bring my car back in. They kept my car for a week this time. By now I am frusterated beyond belief, but still trying to give them chance to fix problem.

I got my car back on April 23,2003. I went to a friends house the next day, picked her up to go to town to buy groceries. I am on my way home from grocery store when my check engine light came on again.

I had only gotten my car back from dealership 21 1/2 hours earlier. By now I was ready to blow a gasket, I was fuming. I called up dealership and told them that light was back on. I was told to call my service rep on Monday morning.

I called dealership on Monday and made appointment for me to bring car in. Made appointment for Wednesday May 5, 2003. I picked up my loaner and went about my merry little way.

They called in a special Ford tech to work on my car. Even the Ford tech got frusterated with my car. He was only here for a few days. The dealership techs were instructed what to do.

My car had a whole host of new parts installed (including new injectors I was told). They finally determined that I had bad gas in my car. They removed the gas tank and had it cleaned.

Mean while I told them that places that I bought gas at for that car, is the same place that I bought gas for all my vehicles. Including the loaner that I had, and was having no problems with those vehicles.

This last time that my car was in shop it was there for 28 days. I filed for lemon law on this car the day before I picked it up. I picked up my car on June 3, 2003.

On June 5,2003 I was taking my daughter to the doctor when I accellerated the car bucked and hesitated. This was one of my many complaints with this car. I had only had my car back for two days.

On June 9, 2003 the dealership called and acknowledged their awareness of my lemon law filing. They wanted me to bring the car in on Thursday June 12, 2003, and I said ok.

At that time they asked me how was the car running and I told them ok except for the hesitation in the acceleration. They asked had the ckeck engine light come back on? I said no that it had not come back on.

The dealership called me at 9:20 am on June 10, 2003 and said that they were rescheduling the appointment to Tuesday June 17, 2003 due to the fact the Ford Represenitive would be here that day.

They asked me to bring my car in on Monday June 16,2003, take local service rep for a ride and show him what was happening with my car. I said ok to this arrangement, at which I would leave my car there overnight.

The Ford Represenative could drive the car, and see the problem herself.

On June 10, 2003 I had to go to a neighboring town to run some errands. I went shopping at the Wal-Mart there and went by the college to use their computer to register for an on-line tutoring service.

When I was done; I came out and got in my car and cranked it up. Lo and behold that dang check engine was on again. I promptly called the dealership and in formed them of what had happened. They said ok,they would see me on Monday June 16, 2003.

I took my car in did the test drive with the local tech. I left my car there and came home. The "Ford Represenative" called me at home at 10:36 am on June 17, 2003 and proceeded to basically tell me that I was going to get next to nothing back ($1300). I feel that I am owed more than that.

I proceeded to track down all of my checks where I made my payments. I also wrote out a proposal to them of what I feel is a fair and equitable settlement. I took this proposal to the dealership and presented it to the head service advisor.

After I handed him the proposal I told him that I would not settle for any less. I also told him that if they tried to offer me any less that they would have to bring in an arbitrator and we would have go to the table.

I also told him that I would consider another Ford product if I got what I wanted. I am not asking for much. I want back $3526.28.

I reminded him to tell Ford if they drag their feet on this one for more than 13 days. They would owe me another payment of $425.00 as my next payment is due June 30, 2003.

Marie
Live Oak, Florida
U.S.A.

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