Excursion factory paint probem - Diesel Forum

drj02 · 10-15-2003, 05:46 AM

My Eddie Baurer X was built 7/22/03 and after taking delivery,found that the rear passenger quarter panel appears to have been repaired before the factory pin striping was applied. I had a strait line clearcoat flaw about 4-5 inches down the passenger tail light assembly. This I had fixed before noting the other problems that exist. My question is what to do now. I am currently going through my dealer service manager but this seems to be an odd problem as the pin stripe is perfect but above and below that,it is very obvious that work had been done. I also remember that the truck took an extensive amount of time between the build and getting to the rail car in KY. It also explains the clearcoat problem I had fixed and why I have another clearcoat problem all the way down the rear passenger quarter window lip.What should I request at this point? I don't know how to fix because of the factory pin stripe.I don't know how to make it so that won't always be noticable.Any help with this matter would greatly be appreciated. I am pissed at myself, as hard as I thought I looked everything over at delivery,I missed the most obvious. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Todd T · 10-15-2003, 09:39 AM

well your dealer accepted delivery of the vehicle without noting the defect or rejecting the delivery all together. they are at fault for not looking out for quality inventory.

the problem, will have to be taken care of using your paint warranty. keep on your dealer's heels until they get you straight. I would request the vehicel be placed in the shop and have the entire quarter sanded and repainted. then make them restripe the whole side with a PAINTED ON stripe not the tape crap.

I didnt see, what color is your rig?

drj02 · 10-15-2003, 08:05 PM

My color is True Blue. I spoke with the service manager today. He touched base with the zone rep. in my area. They both do not deny that the truck was repaired at the factory but stated that I only qualify for what is in the "paint repair warrenty guideline" which basically means we(Ford) will pay to have the area re-painted. I am not happy with this at all. This was not an assebly line problem but actually bodywork after assembly! A $50k new truck with a repaint when Ford knew all about this before the truck was even shipped. The zone rep. also stated that Ford is not obligated to disclose repairs like this no matter what the level of damage or repair. If this is how Ford wants to do business,no wonder rebates need to be so high to keep sales going.Anyone know where I stand at this point as a consumer? Anyone know a good lawyer? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

jschira · 10-15-2003, 09:38 PM

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The zone rep. also stated that Ford is not obligated to disclose repairs like this no matter what the level of damage or repair. If this is how Ford wants to do business,no wonder rebates need to be so high to keep sales going.Anyone know where I stand at this point as a consumer? Anyone know a good lawyer? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

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There was a post a while back from soeone who worked at KTP who said that sometimes, a hood might get a dent or a ding in it during assembly. The procedure was to replace the hood on the line, repair the damaged hood and reinstall the repainted hood on another truck a few days later.

I think that you need to understand a little more about what happended and what Ford did.

In Texas, it is considered fraud to sell something as "new" when it has been damaged and repaired, but I do not think that the law applies to the manufacturer if the damage occurs before the product leaves the factory.

You need to check the laws in your state.

drj02 · 10-15-2003, 09:49 PM

So I take it,this situation may be legal and does not need to be disclosed since it happened at KTP? I will be contacting the consumer lawyer tomarrow to find out about NJ laws in regards to this case. Thanks so much for your info.

Dentman · 10-16-2003, 08:12 AM

Different states have different laws concerning disclosure of damages and repairs on untitled vehicles. In my experiance most states have a value threshold that the damage must cross before it has to be declared. That threshold is usually a percentage of MSRP. On a $50K plus unit that can be a fair amount of damage. New vehicles get sold with repaired damage all of the time. Most just never get noticed.

I'm sure your attourney will be able to give you more specifics concerning NJ or KY law, whichever is in play.

jschira · 10-16-2003, 08:52 AM

[ QUOTE ]
So I take it,this situation may be legal and does not need to be disclosed since it happened at KTP? I will be contacting the consumer lawyer tomarrow to find out about NJ laws in regards to this case. Thanks so much for your info.

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The laws can vary a lot, state to state. If you are going to go the legal route, then you need to talk to an attorney who knows the laws in your state.

Unfortunately, if you want a new truck or your money back, I doubt Ford or the dealer is going to do this willingly.

Todd T · 10-16-2003, 01:01 PM

FYI, all the auto manufacturers do this. Cars get wrecked trying to park them in the holding lots, dented or scratched loading and unloading from rail cars and OTR's.

Like I said, it's the new car manager or appointee's responsibility to check over the cars when they are delivered. This is done to insure quality cars hit their lots. Its just good common sense.

I would lay this on your dealer and let them know how disappointed you are with THEM for letting you down.

The point being, make the dealer eat the extra cost to insure their customer is satisfied. Have you bought from them before? My family has bought countless cars from a local dealer (actually the same salesman) for over thirty years. If a member of my family or I weren’t happy they'd be steppin and fetchin!

Good luck and keep your chin up
Todd

rdefrancisco · 10-16-2003, 10:33 PM

BMW lost a huge lawsuit in Alabama a few years back over a 735i that was damaged in transport. Now BMW has a damage disclosure on all cars that shows severity, location and size of any pre-existing repairs. Most of the time when I am performing a pre delivery inspection I can't find the repair even when I know where it is. Have them hit the truck with a paint depth guage (they have one) to find out the exact extent. My best friend bought a brand new Mustang GT in 95. When it was a year old, the paint started coming off the roof in distinctive long drip marks in a few places. He took it in, and they pulled the whole "something dripped on it" routine. Of course, it was clear into the metal, with no chipping, and no marks on the finish at all. We started paying real close attention to it and keeping it clean and waxed, then we saw the paint start to rise in another place. We took it in, and they noted that the finish was perfect and the problem was under the surface. After four meetings with Zone reps and two years (by now the car looked like crap) they agreed to "split the cost". A year later they fixed it for free. By that time he was sick of the car and sold it right away. His family, a typical American new Ford every three years for everyone, six member family, now drive a Grand Cherokee, Chevy conversion van, Suburban, BMW, Audi and Maxima. None of them bought at the dealer group owned by the family where they had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over 30 odd years. Oh yea, and the body shop charge (warranty) was about $380 total on the Mustang.

989171 · 10-17-2003, 04:33 PM

hey northshoreoutfitters, how about you go over to the 6.0 forum in the thread titled "Date codes off- What is really happening??? VIN Check...please!" and tell alpine about that BMW disclosure thing. He might be able to use that info.