Terry Libbon Ford Sold me a car that started falling apart as soon as the warrantee ran out Rip-off South Lake Tahoe California
First the transmission went bad - no reverse. 1998 Contour went bad in 2001.
Next electrical system started acting up. Electrical system is a "nightmare". We have replaced the battery and the battery cables, but the only way we can start the car is if one person holds the key while another gets under the hood and jiggles the cable until it kicks in.
The financing was done in such a way that we now owe more than the car is worth - even if it was in top condition. We can't afford to fix it and we can't sell it or trade it in.
I don't know what I'll do when it quits altogether, and I truly believe it's just a matter of time.
I believe Ford has had transmission problems with this car model and should stand behind their product. I wrote to them and all I got was a letter of apology. I believe a dealer should be forced to take back a car and payoff the loan themselves if it falls apart before it's paid for.
I think I should be assisted by Ford - who backed the dealer - in getting the car either fixed or replaced. Note I didn't say they should give me a new car. That would probably be fair compensation for the year I'v spent hasseling this car just to keep it running, but I know it's more than I can expect.
Sandra
South Lake Tahoe, California
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
The Great Thorn Rip Off Report- Consumer Advocate
Bayville,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Auto Dealers love cramming a lease down the car buy's throat because it will most likely increase the size of their pay
#4Consumer Suggestion
Sun, December 07, 2003
David, Brandon in Mesa Arizona is like most "Lot Sharks". Auto Dealers love cramming a lease down the car buy's throat because it will most likely increase the size of their pay voucher in a big way.
You know what I mean Brandon. MAX the CAP to 110% of the sticker or maybe Max the Cap to 110% of the ADM sticker, right Brandon? We all know that one Ford dealer in your city loves His BIG ADM stickers, or what he refers to as the "Market Value Adjustment" Stickers.
Don't ask me to send a Rip-off Report Advocate out to get pictures of these stickers. If you do I will get my fellow Phoenix Rip-off Report Advocate to get several pictures and post them so car buyers can be informed of the "Market Value Adjustment" Sticker scam. A big picture of the dealer where he gets them will also be posted as well.
Soon and VERY SOON all of you "LOT SHARKS" in Phoenix will see what can happen if you submit a credit application to a lender with falsified info about a buyer. Such as false income or false amounts of rent/mortgage that the buyer pays. It is time that if a car dealer lies to a bank just to get a car deal approved to PAY THE PRICE for FRAUD!
To all that love the Rip-off Report stay tuned, because I have been informed by a fellow Rip Off Report advocate of what a Kia dealer has done to a buyer and that will be posted real SOON!
I will have a big blast after they file their Rip Off Report. Car dealers have been making car buyers look like liars for many years. Now it is time to expose the dealers for FRAUD!
Sandra, I now have a few questions for you. Would you like to have access to many big shots at Ford? If you want me to I will post many and I mean many of their names, email addresses and phone numbers. There are many big shots @ Ford that know all about www.ripoffreport.com, Maybe one will Help you.
Sandra I would like you to take some time and read the auto dealer Rip Off Reports. At this time there are almost 1700 of them. You will find some much info that your local TV station would NEVER reveal to you.
NO TV station in this country has the balls to do a in-depth story on "Auto Dealer fraud and deception" because of the big advertising money they get from car dealers. If you are a TV station reporter and you have balls contact the EDitor and see if there is a Rip-off Report Advocate that will help you.
That said, Car buyers should to do some good home work before EVER going to any "SHARK POND" I call car sales people LOT SHARKS because they will chew you to the bone and then look for their next victim.
David
BULLHEAD CITY,Arizona,
U.S.A.
why would anyone believe someone whos occupation is scamming people for UOP?
#4Consumer Comment
Sat, December 06, 2003
But then just how credible is your advice Brandon?What you suggested sounds god but I have to ask myself why would anyone believe someone whos occupation is scamming people for UOP? Are you still working there?
Brandon
Mesa,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Are you serious?
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, December 31, 2002
Sandra,
When you purchased a USED vehicle why didn't you purchase the extended warranty? Let me guess, someone (probably a male) told you 'you don't need that' so you didn't buy it. Well, guess what, there is a reason they sell warranties, and it's not just to make a profit, they really do work.
Your electrical issue sounds like an incompetant mechanic doing the work and should be diagnosed by a COMPETENT mechanic, maybe even the dealership.
The financing was done in a way thet YOU AGREED TO! You agreed to the price of the vehicle. You agreed to the payment. And you agreed to the interest rate and the term of the loan. So, before you blame the dealership for your lack of investigation you may want to consider what YOU could have and should have done BEFORE you bought the car. What is the blue book value of the vehicle? What are the repair issues with this particular make/model? How long will it take me to be in a position to get out of the vehicle (or to a point where you have equity) that way if something does happen I can get rid of it?
Also, you blame the dealership and Ford for the issues you are having. Since when do they know what issues a vehicle will have BEFORE they happen? There are several factors that influence problems which you have not enlightened us on. Mileage, frequency of maintenance (the transmission fluid in a Contour should be changed, per Ford specs for hot climates, every 30,000 miles; did you do that? Did the PREVIOUS owner? How hard is the vehicle driven? Up and down mountains or hills or lots of stop and go traffic? All of those are factors in the life of your vehicle. And there are dozens more that I have not listed.
I'm not trying to stand up for them, but you also have to look at their side of the issue. If they took the vehicle back when it broke if it wasn't payed off then there would be ALOT of bankrupt auto makers out there; Kia, Huyndai, Isuzu, and yes, probably even Ford.
Next time you buy a used vehicle you may want to do a bit mroe research and definately buy the warranty if you plan on keeping the vehicle past the factory warranty.
The best thing to do is lease. Sure, you never really own the car, but most people trade their vehicles in before they are paid off anyway so they never own them either. With a lease you are always under warranty and never have to worry about owing more than the car is worth at the end of the term. And the best part, the reason I lease, I get a new car EVERY two years!