Bad Experience With Ford Warranty

Hello,

I recently had a bad experience that may not be newsworthy, but I feel
a need to share it. This experience has taught me a valuable lesson
about which automobile manufacturers to avoid.

I purchased my 1996 Ford Explorer Limited 4x4 in 1996 so I would have a
reliable car while moving my family around the country while serving in
the Air Force.

I have maintained the vehicle meticulously since taking possession. I
have changed the oil regularly, monitored the fluids, etc. I have
taken the truck across the country several times during transfers and
while on leave.

On 08/04/04 the overdrive light started blinking on the instrument
cluster. I took the car to my Ford dealer in San Antonio, TX who
advised me to install a rebuilt transmission which I agreed to. The
bill was $2,635.81. I was told the new transmission was covered by a 3
year/36,000 mile warranty. The truck mileage was 167,701.

On 04/04/05 the truck started smoking and all of the transmission fluid
leaked from the transmission. I took it to the Ford dealer in Baton
Rouge, LA and they replaced the transmission with another rebuilt
transmission from Ford. The truck mileage was 180,772.

On 06/20/05 the truck started smoking and leaking transmission fluid.
I took it to Walker Ford who diagnosed the problem and determined that
the transmission radiator was faulting causing the transmission to
overheat. The advised me to replace the radiator and transmission, but
it would not be covered under warranty because the radiator is not
covered under the warranty. The truck mileage was around 185,000.

I feel this is completely unacceptable. I contacted the central Ford
customer relations department without satisfaction. The least I can do
is warn current and potential Ford owners that Walker Ford and
corporate Ford does not honor their warranties.

Thank you for your time.

Mike Jarrells

On 22 Jun 2005 16:25:25 -0700, wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I recently had a bad experience that may not be newsworthy, but I feel
>a need to share it. This experience has taught me a valuable lesson
>about which automobile manufacturers to avoid.
>
>I purchased my 1996 Ford Explorer Limited 4x4 in 1996 so I would have a
>reliable car while moving my family around the country while serving in
>the Air Force.
>
>I have maintained the vehicle meticulously since taking possession. I
>have changed the oil regularly, monitored the fluids, etc. I have
>taken the truck across the country several times during transfers and
>while on leave.
>
>On 08/04/04 the overdrive light started blinking on the instrument
>cluster. I took the car to my Ford dealer in San Antonio, TX who
>advised me to install a rebuilt transmission which I agreed to. The
>bill was $2,635.81. I was told the new transmission was covered by a 3
>year/36,000 mile warranty. The truck mileage was 167,701.
>
>On 04/04/05 the truck started smoking and all of the transmission fluid
>leaked from the transmission. I took it to the Ford dealer in Baton
>Rouge, LA and they replaced the transmission with another rebuilt
>transmission from Ford. The truck mileage was 180,772.
>
>On 06/20/05 the truck started smoking and leaking transmission fluid.
>I took it to Walker Ford who diagnosed the problem and determined that
>the transmission radiator was faulting causing the transmission to
>overheat. The advised me to replace the radiator and transmission, but
>it would not be covered under warranty because the radiator is not
>covered under the warranty. The truck mileage was around 185,000.
>
>I feel this is completely unacceptable. I contacted the central Ford
>customer relations department without satisfaction. The least I can do
>is warn current and potential Ford owners that Walker Ford and
>corporate Ford does not honor their warranties.
>
>Thank you for your time.
>
>Mike Jarrells

In order for this to be awarranty consideration, you would need to be
able to demonstrate that the original tranny failure was due to the
radiator being faulty, and the cause (the radiator) was not recognized
due to negligence.
Can you do that?
Being *SURE* that this is the case doesn't count. You must be able to
demonstrate/prove it.

--
Bill Funk
replace "g" with "a"