Ohio Lemon buyback issues with dealer

[BucksmanEV]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post here so looking for some insight/opinions on my situation. I bought my new F150 Lightning Lariat on 6/24/24 and was so excited to own an electric truck. Fast forward to 7/9/24 and my truck broke down on the Ohio turnpike 2.5 hours away from home with only 500 miles total on the truck. I received multiple warnings in the dash including: drive train error, high battery temp, exit vehicle immediately, low 12v battery, not able to shift out of park, etc. My truck ended up getting towed to a Ford dealer a few miles away and we received no rental car, so I had to have family drive the 2.5 hours and pick me up. Mind you this trip was to the Cleveland Clinic for an appointment as I receive regular treatments and infusions there. The dealership had trouble diagnosing the truck and after a week the BEV team got involved. Fast forward to 8/7/24 and my truck was declared a lemon and Ford approved my buyback, but this is where things get much worse. The RAV team at Ford has been wonderful and I signed my buyback paperwork with Ford on 8/27/24. Mind you my Lightning is still at the Ford dealer (Cleveland, OH) 2.5 hours away from my house and still torn apart waiting on parts from Ford. My RAV team member said the dealer would need to process my surrender paperwork and then they would give me my check. Well the dealer where my broke down lightning is isn't playing ball with corporate and said he will not entertain the buyback surrender unless I pay the dealership or I first purchase a brand new ford from them and no-one else. In his words, "No one works for free and I need to make money on this deal." How is this even legal and has anyone else ran across a dealer refusing to process a buyback surrender? The RAV team mentioned most recently that the dealership might have to reassemble the truck without working parts, have it towed to a different dealership willing to accept it, all while the tow would be on my dime. Just a horribly frustrating experience for my first EV truck.

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[1Jetpilot]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post here so looking for some insight/opinions on my situation. I bought my new F150 Lightning Lariat on 6/24/24 and was so excited to own an electric truck. Fast forward to 7/9/24 and my truck broke down on the Ohio turnpike 2.5 hours away from home with only 500 miles total on the truck. I received multiple warnings in the dash including: drive train error, high battery temp, exit vehicle immediately, low 12v battery, not able to shift out of park, etc. My truck ended up getting towed to a Ford dealer a few miles away and we received no rental car, so I had to have family drive the 2.5 hours and pick me up. Mind you this trip was to the Cleveland Clinic for an appointment as I receive regular treatments and infusions there. The dealership had trouble diagnosing the truck and after a week the BEV team got involved. Fast forward to 8/7/24 and my truck was declared a lemon and Ford approved my buyback, but this is where things get much worse. The RAV team at Ford has been wonderful and I signed my buyback paperwork with Ford on 8/27/24. Mind you my Lightning is still at the Ford dealer (Cleveland, OH) 2.5 hours away from my house and still torn apart waiting on parts from Ford. My RAV team member said the dealer would need to process my surrender paperwork and then they would give me my check. Well the dealer where my broke down lightning is isn't playing ball with corporate and said he will not entertain the buyback surrender unless I pay the dealership or I first purchase a brand new ford from them and no-one else. In his words, "No one works for free and I need to make money on this deal." How is this even legal and has anyone else ran across a dealer refusing to process a buyback surrender? The RAV team mentioned most recently that the dealership might have to reassemble the truck without working parts, have it towed to a different dealership willing to accept it, all while the tow would be on my dime. Just a horribly frustrating experience for my first EV truck.

There is a Ford Ambassador on this forum that flies the Ford logo. Try finding them and tell them your story, I am convinced they would step up to the plate. Good luck

 

[Scorpio3d]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post here so looking for some insight/opinions on my situation. I bought my new F150 Lightning Lariat on 6/24/24 and was so excited to own an electric truck. Fast forward to 7/9/24 and my truck broke down on the Ohio turnpike 2.5 hours away from home with only 500 miles total on the truck. I received multiple warnings in the dash including: drive train error, high battery temp, exit vehicle immediately, low 12v battery, not able to shift out of park, etc. My truck ended up getting towed to a Ford dealer a few miles away and we received no rental car, so I had to have family drive the 2.5 hours and pick me up. Mind you this trip was to the Cleveland Clinic for an appointment as I receive regular treatments and infusions there. The dealership had trouble diagnosing the truck and after a week the BEV team got involved. Fast forward to 8/7/24 and my truck was declared a lemon and Ford approved my buyback, but this is where things get much worse. The RAV team at Ford has been wonderful and I signed my buyback paperwork with Ford on 8/27/24. Mind you my Lightning is still at the Ford dealer (Cleveland, OH) 2.5 hours away from my house and still torn apart waiting on parts from Ford. My RAV team member said the dealer would need to process my surrender paperwork and then they would give me my check. Well the dealer where my broke down lightning is isn't playing ball with corporate and said he will not entertain the buyback surrender unless I pay the dealership or I first purchase a brand new ford from them and no-one else. In his words, "No one works for free and I need to make money on this deal." How is this even legal and has anyone else ran across a dealer refusing to process a buyback surrender? The RAV team mentioned most recently that the dealership might have to reassemble the truck without working parts, have it towed to a different dealership willing to accept it, all while the tow would be on my dime. Just a horribly frustrating experience for my first EV truck.

I think @1Jetpilot is referring to @Ford Motor Company
Try sending them a DM maybe??

 

[astrand1]

There is a Ford Ambassador on this forum that flies the Ford logo. Try finding them and tell them your story, I am convinced they would step up to the plate. Good luck

You’re kidding right? I’m almost convinced those are bots or AI. They always say the same thing. “Send me your vin and I’ll look into it” I contacted one of them a couple years ago and never heard anything. I think the OP needs to either climb up the chain at Ford or better yet get a lemon law attorney. There is no money out of pocket from the customer as the manufacturer pays the lawyer separately. This is not his problem. Sounds like the dealer and Ford corp. need to work something out but that should not have anything to do with the customer. And him having to pay for a tow to another dealer? That sound like a load of bullshit. This dealership sounds like it’s run by a bunch of scumbags.

 

[Maquis]

Unfortunately, it’s probably time to hire a lawyer.

 

[PrimeRisk]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post here so looking for some insight/opinions on my situation. I bought my new F150 Lightning Lariat on 6/24/24 and was so excited to own an electric truck. Fast forward to 7/9/24 and my truck broke down on the Ohio turnpike 2.5 hours away from home with only 500 miles total on the truck. I received multiple warnings in the dash including: drive train error, high battery temp, exit vehicle immediately, low 12v battery, not able to shift out of park, etc. My truck ended up getting towed to a Ford dealer a few miles away and we received no rental car, so I had to have family drive the 2.5 hours and pick me up. Mind you this trip was to the Cleveland Clinic for an appointment as I receive regular treatments and infusions there. The dealership had trouble diagnosing the truck and after a week the BEV team got involved. Fast forward to 8/7/24 and my truck was declared a lemon and Ford approved my buyback, but this is where things get much worse. The RAV team at Ford has been wonderful and I signed my buyback paperwork with Ford on 8/27/24. Mind you my Lightning is still at the Ford dealer (Cleveland, OH) 2.5 hours away from my house and still torn apart waiting on parts from Ford. My RAV team member said the dealer would need to process my surrender paperwork and then they would give me my check. Well the dealer where my broke down lightning is isn't playing ball with corporate and said he will not entertain the buyback surrender unless I pay the dealership or I first purchase a brand new ford from them and no-one else. In his words, "No one works for free and I need to make money on this deal." How is this even legal and has anyone else ran across a dealer refusing to process a buyback surrender? The RAV team mentioned most recently that the dealership might have to reassemble the truck without working parts, have it towed to a different dealership willing to accept it, all while the tow would be on my dime. Just a horribly frustrating experience for my first EV truck.

First off, I'm very sorry to hear that this is your experience. It sucks to be paying on a very expensive vehicle for months while it sits in a repair shop.

It's amazing that Ford can't fix your truck and is moving directly to buy-back. Something really bad must have happened with the truck to make eating $70-80k the best route for Ford. Maybe Ford wants it back so it can diagnose exactly what happened to cause this bad of a failure.

Ford is paying that dealership to work on the truck, so the dealership is making money on that end and probably a lot of it. Out of principal, I would refuse to give the dealership that is trying to strong arm you into buying another vehicle from them a single red cent. Work with your RAV team rep to find another dealership in the area that won't play these games with you and have them retrieve the truck from the low-life dealer. If you intend on buying another Ford, I'm sure the other dealer will make the tow charges disappear to make the deal happen. If not, then ask the RAV rep to reimburse the towing charges to get it done.

Even if you have to come out of pocket a couple $100 on a tow, going the attorney route is going to eat up a lot of time and is likely going to end up costing you more money.

Let us know how this evolves.

 

[ScubaSteve_TheReal]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post here so looking for some insight/opinions on my situation. I bought my new F150 Lightning Lariat on 6/24/24 and was so excited to own an electric truck. Fast forward to 7/9/24 and my truck broke down on the Ohio turnpike 2.5 hours away from home with only 500 miles total on the truck. I received multiple warnings in the dash including: drive train error, high battery temp, exit vehicle immediately, low 12v battery, not able to shift out of park, etc. My truck ended up getting towed to a Ford dealer a few miles away and we received no rental car, so I had to have family drive the 2.5 hours and pick me up. Mind you this trip was to the Cleveland Clinic for an appointment as I receive regular treatments and infusions there. The dealership had trouble diagnosing the truck and after a week the BEV team got involved. Fast forward to 8/7/24 and my truck was declared a lemon and Ford approved my buyback, but this is where things get much worse. The RAV team at Ford has been wonderful and I signed my buyback paperwork with Ford on 8/27/24. Mind you my Lightning is still at the Ford dealer (Cleveland, OH) 2.5 hours away from my house and still torn apart waiting on parts from Ford. My RAV team member said the dealer would need to process my surrender paperwork and then they would give me my check. Well the dealer where my broke down lightning is isn't playing ball with corporate and said he will not entertain the buyback surrender unless I pay the dealership or I first purchase a brand new ford from them and no-one else. In his words, "No one works for free and I need to make money on this deal." How is this even legal and has anyone else ran across a dealer refusing to process a buyback surrender? The RAV team mentioned most recently that the dealership might have to reassemble the truck without working parts, have it towed to a different dealership willing to accept it, all while the tow would be on my dime. Just a horribly frustrating experience for my first EV truck.

The dealership just needs called out on there bluff.
Schedule the surrender date between buyback team and this dealership.
Buyback team can take care of this, it’s just amounts to you sitting down at dealership and signing the document’s sent by FedEx to the dealership. Next is just giving them your signature several times and key fobs, etc.
Entire process should take well under an hour.
Dealership and other truck issues are covered through your vehicle warranty for there payment of services and diagnostics.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes the dealership will soon learn.
Sounds like BS from the dealership…..
….good luck

 

[astrand1]

First off, I'm very sorry to hear that this is your experience. It sucks to be paying on a very expensive vehicle for months while it sits in a repair shop.

It's amazing that Ford can't fix your truck and is moving directly to buy-back. Something really bad must have happened with the truck to make eating $70-80k the best route for Ford. Maybe Ford wants it back so it can diagnose exactly what happened to cause this bad of a failure.

Ford is paying that dealership to work on the truck, so the dealership is making money on that end and probably a lot of it. Out of principal, I would refuse to give the dealership that is trying to strong arm you into buying another vehicle from them a single red cent. Work with your RAV team rep to find another dealership in the area that won't play these games with you and have them retrieve the truck from the low-life dealer. If you intend on buying another Ford, I'm sure the other dealer will make the tow charges disappear to make the deal happen. If not, then ask the RAV rep to reimburse the towing charges to get it done.

Even if you have to come out of pocket a couple $100 on a tow, going the attorney route is going to eat up a lot of time and is likely going to end up costing you more money.

Let us know how this evolves.

If he gets a lemon lawyer that won’t hurt his final settlement. Those monies come separate from the manufacturer. At least that’s how it works in Michigan.

 

[ScubaSteve_TheReal]

Back to the OP, it sounds to me that he has already been approved for an agreed upon amount from the FORD repurchase team. Approved is approved, It also sounds like his issue is with a bad dealership and an attempted bullying situation over there payment from FORD and warranty monies to them. They sound like they, the surrender dealership are the villains here to me in this situation. Lemon lawyers in my experiences have been only needed in the getting approved of lemon status, he has that already. The OP sounds to be already approved and awaiting surrender of vehicle and pickup of check made out to him btw from FORD. I would schedule the surrender date with help from the repurchase team and the dealer and push push push until they give in.

 

[John Becker]

Try the law firm of Dewey, Screwum, & Howe.
Otherwise, the best Lemon Law specialist in Ohio is https://burdgelaw.com/
That's who I hired when FMC ghosted me.

 

[TaxmanHog]

It also sounds like his issue is with a bad dealership and an attempted bullying situation over there payment from FORD and warranty monies to them.

This dealership needs to lose it's franchise @Ford Motor Company

 

[Grease Lightning]

This dealership needs to lose it's franchise @Ford Motor Company

Exactly. I would start a smear campaign with the local media and see how quick this 🫏 has a change of heart. People forget in the digital era how easy it is to ruin your business.

The dealers beef is with @Ford Motor Company if they are not willing to pay the dealer for the work already performed, not the customer.

 

[PrimeRisk]

If he gets a lemon lawyer that won’t hurt his final settlement. Those monies come separate from the manufacturer. At least that’s how it works in Michigan.

Ah, good to know! Not much good getting a $80k refund if the attorney costs you $50k. Looks like Colorado also has similar laws that force the manufacturer to pay for the attorney fees.

 

[astrand1]

Ah, good to know! Not much good getting a $80k refund if the attorney costs you $50k. Looks like Colorado also has similar laws that force the manufacturer to pay for the attorney fees.

Yeah over the years I’ve had 2 buy backs and so I learned all that stuff. I think people think that it’s like a regular lawyer accident type deal where they take 30%-40% but fortunately it’s not that way.

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