5 TIMES FOR THE SAME THING (BUYBACK?) - Diesel Forum

JSVOLLMER · 12-14-2006, 08:01 PM

My 2004 F250 has been in and out of the dealership 5 times for a flashing airbag light in the last few months. The dealership told me they found a short in the driver side pre-tensioner at a relay. They fixed this 3 times and the light still came on. The 4th time it was in the pre-tesioner on the drivers side had broke. It was fixed and 2 days later the light started flashing again. I took it in for the 5th time on 12-13 and the dealer told me they were going to order a new airbag module but did not sound to sure about this being the problem. My truck has about 32k miles on it and has been covered under warranty. Lemon laws in CA are 18monts/18k miles. Just wondering if anyone has had simular problem and what recourse I have with Ford if any (BUYBACK?), or does Ford have a unlimited amount of attempts to fix this because I am over the 18/18.

Thanks for any input.

awayne · 12-14-2006, 08:34 PM

LOL... have fun with Ford. They will do nothing for you unless you get a Lemon Law Attorney involved because they just do not care. I'm sure someone from CA will give you an idea of who you might be able to contact for help. Good luck with everything.

KYSkipper · 12-14-2006, 10:08 PM

Ford isn't going to back squat unless they are forced to. I don't see what is so complicated about an air bag, but I know they'll aggrivate the piss out of you if they can't fix the engine, and they could care less if you went out and bought a Toyota. I frankly have 0 confidence in Ford's customer service, their sincerity in their warranty, or their promises to fix.

Skipper

jmcholden · 12-14-2006, 10:13 PM

If its a safety related concern the California lemon law just states a resonable number of attemts must be allowed for the repair.My Lawyer said that equals 3 times depending on the concern. Not sure where you got the 18/18 from? Ford has agreed to buy back my 03 with 50k on it? I will hopefully be done with the process in the next few weeks?
Have you always used the same dealer for this repair? If so I would try another dealer first. Then contact Ford if you still can't resolve it. Some times I've heard they will do the right thing without getting a Lawyer involved. Good luck
JMC

JSVOLLMER · 12-14-2006, 11:14 PM

Thanks for the input. I got the info. on the 18 months and 18k miles from the web. I was hoping since this was a safety issue Ford may be more inclined to help. I am currently waiting for a part from the 2nd dealer my truck has been to. I am hoping the new airbag module will do the trick. This is the last chance I am giving the dealer to fix this problem, I think I have been more than patient. Hopefully I will not have to go with the attorney option, but if they don't fix it I guess there is no choice.

SteveIn29 · 12-15-2006, 12:52 AM

Ford bought me out of my 04 due to repeated "check engine lights" that they were unable to figure out. When they started replaceing previously replaced items for the second time I contacted Ford's customer service and had them send the DSB paperwork. Other then the time length (both mine and Ford's fault) the transaction went pretty smooth.

leros · 12-15-2006, 02:29 AM

I'm in Ca and had early problems with my 04 EX. the Service Manager told me that I have all the way up to 36K to start a buyback and he would help me. The only thing I would have to do is return it back to stock (lift kit, wheels & tires, exhaust). He said they would credit the mileage all the way back to the first occurance of the repeat problem (power issues) which was around 2500 miles. I decided that I didn't want to do it because I couldn't get another Excursion and besides all the motor problems were taken care of and it was running good. If I had a truck, I probably would have done it.

I would check with the manager on the buyback mileage because I was under the impression that it was 18K also, that was until I was told by a manager that it was 36K.

Good luck.

JSVOLLMER · 12-15-2006, 11:30 AM

I was wondering if you were able to resolve the problem without an attorney. Also is the DSB paperwork you refered to the only paperwork you had to file with FMC, or was there additional paperwork needed to start the buyback process. Thanks.

Coolhand · 12-17-2006, 12:41 PM

Each state's lemon law and buyback provisions are different.

contact the BBB asap, they have the exact info for each state.

Ms. Nancy O'Brien there is very helpful and can provide exact info and requirements for BBB arbitration.

I know, because I've been down this road.

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SteveIn29 · 12-17-2006, 01:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I was wondering if you were able to resolve the problem without an attorney. Also is the DSB paperwork you refered to the only paperwork you had to file with FMC, or was there additional paperwork needed to start the buyback process. Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]Yes the DSB paperwork (it's only a single sheet by the way) was all I needed to file (along with copies of all my work orders of course) and there was no need to bring an attorny into the deal. Later on I did need to provide receipts for my aftermarket add-ons that Ford reimbursed me for as well.

DRhodes · 12-17-2006, 02:43 PM

I posted a whole article on buy backs and the results however the moderators on this site did not make it a sticky so people could review it. I gave a step by step account of my ordeal and it showed how to do things properly.
I do not know that yor particular issue is worthy of a buyback because they do not leave you stranded alongside the road.
Once I did things properly Ford was eager to make things right.
Make contact with BBB Autoline from the 1-800 number in your manual.