How is your Ford Dealership experience with warranty repairs?

AzPatroit

Jul 15, 2024

I guess a lot has changed in the past few years. My 21 Ranger is now out of warranty period (3 years) and I had almost zero repairs during that time. My 23 Bronco Sport - Badlands (8,000 miles) had the air condition stop working (110 degrees, great timing). So I roll into the service department to ask about an appointment, the service rep laughs . . .

He explains that they work on the vehicles in the order that they are dropped off and based on the current amount in front of me he estimated about one week. Once they get to it, they will diagnosis (he assumes it is the compressor based on the crazy noise coming out of the engine area and the fact they they have replaced 100's of Bronco Sport Compressors) order the part and give me an idea of when it may be ready. He figures about another 3 - 5 days.

So now I will be without my Bronco for almost two weeks (if I want air conditioning) and will need to rent a car so I have transportation during the two week wait. Prior to this most recent experience, the dealership would have me wait an hour or so while a tech did diagnosis, then give me my car back and make an appointment once the parts arrive so that I was only without my car for a day, two at most.

What has been your experience with warranty repairs? Note that this is a new dealership for me as the last one took about 3 months to get the 'parts' and schedule an appointment for me so I was hoping this new dealership would be 'better'.

Roughstock11, silentprofecy

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Jul 15, 2024

This is my experience too. I have a damaged window switch (functions just fine, just the chrome trim piece cuts my finger when I roll the window down). I was able to make an appointment a month and a half out, and once I dropped it off they promised to look at the vehicle within 2 business days. Utterly ridiculous service for a cosmetic feature that should be corrected.

There definitely is a tech shortage in the industry right now, but dealers are also trying too hard to compete with the quick-lube places by offering all of these ridiculous service packages. They don't have room to do the less profitable warranty repairs. It wasn't always like this, and I'm sure it also varies depending on the area you're in.

The severe lack of good warranty service really is hurting Ford as a brand. Hope they can get their service centers back to providing good service, otherwise a lot of people will probably not be buying a new vehicle from Ford again.

Riajk, Kenneth

Jul 15, 2024

Yeah, that sounds typical here. In our 13mths of Wildtrack ownership, we haven't had anything too serious - Check engine light for Capless fuel filler air leak & Keyless entry's never worked.

Made a service appointment for Bronco two weeks earlier, Bronco at dealership last Monday, service advisor said 3 to 5 days. Today, 7 days later, advisor says maybe this evening or tomorrow - Patience required..

Cheers

UserError

Jul 15, 2024

Other than the lead time for an appointment, my experience has been great at my local dealer .

Call them up, explain the problem, and they setup an appointment for me. Unfortunately that appointment is often several weeks to a few months out, but that goes back to the technician shortage @Rawah652 mentioned. I show up on the day of the appointment, they get the work done, I take the Bronco home later that day. Bing bang boom—done. Easy.

I suspect the largest issue these days is the industry-wide technician shortage, and unfortunately there's just no easy fix for that.

2022 4dr Badlands, 2.3L Manual, Mid pkg
YouTube: youtube.com/@ragnarkon
Instagram: @ragnar.kon

Bschurr, UserError

Jul 16, 2024

This drives me crazy and they seem to be stuck in their old ways not willing to improve their service. Why make an appointment if they aren't going to get to it for days, makes no sense. I went off the last time I was there and now I up front ask them when you will get to it and I drop it off the day they commit to working on it. They can easily change the way they are booking appointments but refuse to change.

Kenneth

Jul 16, 2024

Yeah, understand your frustration! Think a lot of us are clearly in very different/ low service level with Ford dealerships.

We’ve given up on our closest dealer. They were completely unresponsive, and after holding our Bronco for 8 days and doing nothing - I just showed up got my keys and said thanks for nothing!

Our expectations are very low, just hope this these folks will get a couple repairs done without screwing something up..

Cheers

Jul 16, 2024

Mine has been very good. I've used the warranty a couple of times. Cracked driver's airbag cover, and faulty steering rack. Both times I went in with low confidence. Both times it was no questions asked. I am now out of original warranty and into the extended warranty.

"There's nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a Bronco" - John Bronco

RagnarKon, Kenneth

Jul 16, 2024

My experience has been excellent…. I have had the same salesman for almost 20 years, and if i have a need he can get me into service quickly…. If it’s not critical, I wait like everyone else, but if I really have a need, having a relationship with a salesman and dealership goes a long ways…

Riding OB1, 23 4- door Outer Banks, SAS, MOD, MIC, Lux, Ordered 10/20/22, delivered 1/13/23

MWNew, Riajk

Jul 16, 2024

I stopped going to my dealership. One time when I called about an oil change, let them know I still had the seat belt recall that needed to be done. They told me they'd need to see the Bronco separately, then I'd need to come back at a later date for the repair.

Everyone here knows it's just a tiny plastic clip they put on the belt. Probably can be 3D printed and takes all of about 2 seconds to do it. So with that said... I don't need it, nor do I need the aggravation of dealing with my local Ford dealer.

2021 Broncos - BaseSquatch 4dr. Rapid Red V6 Soft Top
Big Bed 4dr. AMB V6 Soft Top Tow (BIL's)
Nitto tires SUCK! You've been warned.

UserError, Deano Bronc

Jul 16, 2024

2.3L hard Pedal brake vacuum hose failure. 2022

I got all these codes and reported to me dealer. Asked them to order replacement part. Was told THEY had to diagnose and then they would order the part.

3 1/2 months before my appointment and I have figured out how to make it NOT have a firm pedal and is my only rig so I keep driving.

9 am appointment with a 2 hour drive to be there. Don't get the Bronco in till13:00. 14:00 come out and say yup..you were correct and we will order the part but....it's on national back order and since it's a safety issue you must leave the Bronco.

I took the Bronco home after stating I've been driving for over 5k miles waiting for this visit and if the tech didn't eff up my ride I'll be fine.
They will call me when the part arrives. 1 month, another month nope still on back order.

I call the parts department at the same dealership with the updated hose assy # and they have one in stock. I buy it with points pay for shipping and fix my Bronco the next day in 20 minutes.
They told me to take it to the dealership I bought it from from now on for service. Hello...this IS where I bought it.
Needless to say I now drive 2 hours the other direction to Idaho for service work.

This was July 2022...Today 20k more trouble free miles. Stay away from Kendall Ford in Bozeman MT.

Cheaper and easier for me to buy and repair than lose two days wages waiting on a 125.00 part!

21 Badlands, 2 dr, four banger, slushbox, SAS. PERFECT!

UserError, PSUTE

Jul 16, 2024

#10

While I feel I have a good relationship with my dealer and so far my Bronco has been without issue, I cant say the same for my 24 F350 King Ranch.
I have bought 11 brand new ford vehicles and all except an F750 have been trouble free and never had to go in for warrantee.
Then I got the King Ranch. It was delivered with a bad steering gear box. Then I took it with 40 miles and the check engine light was on. It was delivered with no coolant in the intercooler and it was not checked during prep. They installed a new gear box, and now it has to go back for the steering wheel off center. And the drivers seat is crooked. FORD, you disappointed a long time customer. Its sad when you by a premium truck and it has so many problems. It has 500 miles on it and each one started at 0 miles.
Now as for dealers. In the last 12 months I have bought 3 Fords, 1 Mack, 4 Freightliners and 1 Peterbuilt. the complexity, quality and lack of technicians has me frustrated at Ford, Freightliner, Mack and the upfitters that added the bodies to the heavy trucks. You can't rent a sweeper when its in line at freightliner.
I guess I am saying the quality sucks and the wait time does too no matter what you buy. So yeah.

UserError, Deano Bronc

Jul 16, 2024

#11

Sven
2.3L hard Pedal brake vacuum hose failure. 2022

I got all these codes and reported to me dealer. Asked them to order replacement part. Was told THEY had to diagnose and then they would order the part.

3 1/2 months before my appointment and I have figured out how to make it NOT have a firm pedal and is my only rig so I keep driving.

9 am appointment with a 2 hour drive to be there. Don't get the Bronco in till13:00. 14:00 come out and say yup..you were correct and we will order the part but....it's on national back order and since it's a safety issue you must leave the Bronco.

I took the Bronco home after stating I've been driving for over 5k miles waiting for this visit and if the tech didn't eff up my ride I'll be fine.
They will call me when the part arrives. 1 month, another month nope still on back order.

I call the parts department at the same dealership with the updated hose assy # and they have one in stock. I buy it with points pay for shipping and fix my Bronco the next day in 20 minutes.
They told me to take it to the dealership I bought it from from now on for service. Hello...this IS where I bought it.
Needless to say I now drive 2 hours the other direction to Idaho for service work.

This was July 2022...Today 20k more trouble free miles. Stay away from Kendall Ford in Bozeman MT.

Cheaper and easier for me to buy and repair than lose two days wages waiting on a 125.00 part!

Gotta wonder if Ford's current mgmt went to the same leadership conference the federal secret service mgmt came from??

ANNOYING!!??**..

Riajk, PSUTE

Jul 17, 2024

#12

I have good relationships with several local @Ford Motor Company dealerships. As far as warranty I'll let you know whenever the parts finally arrive and service is complete. I will say bluntly that recall and TSB services have been absolute horse@%#&. They couldn't seem to care less.

Supreme Leader of the Wandering but NOT Lost
2022 OBX Cyber Orange Metallic with random acutriments.

Sven

Jul 17, 2024

#13

LOVE my dealership (Schultz Ford - Nanuet, NY) has been great both sales & service. I purchased my 1st Bronco September 2021 and afterward, my salesman would call me with any abandoned or cancelled orders and I would reach out to my Rolodex with the opportunity of a lifetime based on the scarcity.

Service is equally awesome - if I have an issue, I call and get an appointment within a day. They pick up my vehicle and return it to me when complete. They don’t have rentals nor do they wash the vehicles but I’ll take amazing service over some conveniences.

- 2023 Raptor / Shadow Black / MGV (DOB 8/30/23)
- 2023 Heritage Limited Edition / Robin’s Egg Blue / 4dr / (stolen from my dealer 11/15/23)

PSUTE, Deano Bronc

Jul 17, 2024

#14

I have had good response, work, and relationship with my dealer. Vanderhyde Ford in Cedar Springs, MI. Knock on wood, I've had no warranty or other issues with the Bronco, 1 yr old. I've had a couple with the F-150 and they have been fixed quickly. They are a small dealer in a small town. They understand customer loyalty, no MSRP mark up on the Bronco. Service department helps research issues, the few I've had. As they commerical says, "It's worth the ride to Vandehyde!"

UserError, Deano Bronc

Jul 17, 2024

#15

Frustrating for sure! My back window (hardtop) was leaking when it rained or got washed, they said they needed the Bronco a week just to look at it and at least another couple of weeks to order any parts and to fit it in their schedule to fix. I asked if they could schedule a day to look it, because I didn't want to leave it there for who knows how long and they said it didn't work like that anymore, they would get to it when it was basically convenient for them. I imagine I'll end up fixing it myself, who knows, maybe that is Fords strategy...💁

2022 Outerbanks 4 Door| MIC-Top | Cactus Grey | 2.7 Auto | Lux

Deano Bronc, PSUTE

Jul 18, 2024

#16

My only warranty repair was a check engine light came on while on vacation 1,000 miles from home. Went to a dealer without an appointment, got me in, fixed the problem {purge valve), in a couple of hours, back on the road!

OrangecrushBronco, Sven

Jul 18, 2024

#17

Wandering Pinto
My only warranty repair was a check engine light came on while on vacation 1,000 miles from home. Went to a dealer without an appointment, got me in, fixed the problem {purge valve), in a couple of hours, back on the road!

Which dealership deserves the positive shoutout?!

Supreme Leader of the Wandering but NOT Lost
2022 OBX Cyber Orange Metallic with random acutriments.

Jul 19, 2024

#18

OrangecrushBronco
Which dealership deserves the positive shoutout?!

Steet Ponte Ford Yorkville New York in the Utica area.

UserError, OrangecrushBronco

Jul 19, 2024

#19

I have had an electrical issue since the first year of ownership of my wildtrak. Dealership has been great. Had to go through the process of trying everything before Ford finally said to fix it properly. Bad pins in a 220 pin connector. Tried to tighten the pins over the course of a few years. Finally replaced the harness. Again, dealership has been great to work with. They were tired of seeing my Bronco as well. Got the new harness in, Ford sent them a faulty part. At this point, there was no room for the tech to work on it for 3 weeks. Got it back yesterday and everything is good. Each time I brought it in the dealership handed me a loaner. First few times were brand new F150 XLT's and the last time was a Big Bend Bronco Sport. Had the the Bronco Sport for over a month. Frustrating to have to deal with a fix, but the dealership was fantastic. The dealership is Lundeen Brothers in Annandale, MN.

21 Wildtrak, Rapid Red, MIC, Tow, Lux, side steps, Built 12/21 delivered 3/22

UserError, Deano Bronc

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