Dealerships Not Working on EV’s They Didn’t Sell?

[Zaptor]

I bought mine from 7 states away... sure hope I don't have to take it back to the selling dealer for service /s

Come on Ford; sort out your dealers, or cut em off...

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[GarageMahal]

I had been getting my vehicles serviced at a local dealer for over 20 years but I purchased my Lightning out of state to save money and not have to deal with the local dealer's sales BS.

When I tried to have a paint defect repaired under warranty they said no. I called Ford who recommended another local dealer who turned out to be fantastic. Seems like a poor business decision...

 

[shutterbug]

When I tried to have a paint defect repaired under warranty they said no. I called Ford who recommended another local dealer who turned out to be fantastic. Seems like a poor business decision...

After encountering service BS with the dealer I bought MME from, I switched to a different dealer. So when I bought my Lightning, I did so with the dealer that was providing good service.

 

[ZSC100]

This is crazy. I bought my Lightning 250mi away b/c that's all I could find. My local dealership has done over 20 module replacements, 2 in a friend's truck, one in mine and I've seen 3 Lightnings there at once before in service. They are EV rockstars IMO, so I can't even imagine a dealer refusing warranty work, it's fully reimbursed by their very own parent FMC. That being said I can see smaller, more rural (and conservative owned) dealers maybe having a general anti-EV stance. Maybe they think if they can contribute to failure of the EV movement, they've done their little part to stick it to he man (gov),, LOL.

 

[Acottrell]

This is crazy. I bought my Lightning 250mi away b/c that's all I could find. My local dealership has done over 20 module replacements, 2 in a friend's truck, one in mine and I've seen 3 Lightnings there at once before in service. They are EV rockstars IMO, so I can't even imagine a dealer refusing warranty work, it's fully reimbursed by their very own parent FMC. That being said I can see smaller, more rural (and conservative owned) dealers maybe having a general anti-EV stance. Maybe they think if they can contribute to failure of the EV movement, they've done their little part to stick it to he man (gov),, LOL.

I also drove quite a far ways away, almost 500 miles into northern Ohio from central NC. I bought a mannequin for $12k off msrp while the dealerships around me still were at msrp or up to $5k adm.

I am just speculating that my local dealership is short staff on techs and they are looking at ways of reducing load. They aren’t open for any service over the weekend due to staff shortages is what they told me. I feel if that’s the case, they would rather take in work that’s short turn time on replacement parts for an ICE versus spending the extra time and money to train more EV techs and chasing electrical gremlins. Just a theory.

 

[TomB985]

I’ve heard of this on another Ford forum years ago. The sad truth is that they aren’t required to work on anything they don’t want to.

They are EV rockstars IMO, so I can't even imagine a dealer refusing warranty work, it's fully reimbursed by their very own BUSINESS PARTNER FMC.

Ford doesn’t own any of them. The dealers are independent businesses with a contractual relationship with Ford. If that contract doesn’t require them to service every customer, there’s nothing Ford can do to change it.

I agree with the consensus about how awful of a business decision this is. I have a long memory. I remember being quoted over MSRP a couple of years ago by dealers taking advantage of shortages. I thanked them for their time and found a better dealer. Those who quoted above MSRP will never see me again.

My truck succumbed to the battery module failure on Wednesday, and I drove it 60 miles past a half-dozen other Ford dealers to the place I bought it. They’re the largest Ford dealer in Minnesota, so I trust them more with battery work than my small, local dealer. I also think they owe me a bit of loyalty for the purchase.

I’m not aware of any local dealers refusing to service what they didn’t sell. But if I ever did, everyone I know would hear about it. I’d also leave detailed reviews on Google, Apple Maps, and DealerRater. I understand there’s no obligation, but that’s a lousy way to do business, and people should know before choosing to give them money.

 

[ZSC100]

I’ve heard of this on another Ford forum years ago. The sad truth is that they aren’t required to work on anything they don’t want to.



Ford doesn’t own any of them. The dealers are independent businesses with a contractual relationship with Ford. If that contract doesn’t require them to service every customer, there’s nothing Ford can do to change it.

I agree with the consensus about how awful of a business decision this is. I have a long memory. I remember being quoted over MSRP a couple of years ago by dealers taking advantage of shortages. I thanked them for their time and found a better dealer. Those who quoted above MSRP will never see me again.

My truck succumbed to the battery module failure on Wednesday, and I drove it 60 miles past a half-dozen other Ford dealers to the place I bought it. They’re the largest Ford dealer in Minnesota, so I trust them more with battery work than my small, local dealer. I also think they owe me a bit of loyalty for the purchase.

I’m not aware of any local dealers refusing to service what they didn’t sell. But if I ever did, everyone I know would hear about it. I’d also leave detailed reviews on Google, Apple Maps, and DealerRater. I understand there’s no obligation, but that’s a lousy way to do business, and people should know before choosing to give them money.

I'm curious what your reduced power limit was wile driving it 60mi,, was it 25%? Also, anyone else on here has a batter module failure, please comment what your reduced power limit was while the DTC was set.

 

[TomB985]

I'm curious what your reduced power limit was wile driving it 60mi,, was it 25%? Also, anyone else on here has a batter module failure, please comment what your reduced power limit was while the DTC was set.

Mine was capped at 58% power when the warnings popped up. I drove it home and it started charging normally, but gave up overnight when it hit 66%. I had 57% power for the whole trip down to the dealer.

 

[Roy2001]

Dealers are independent and can choose what path they want to take... also, they may just not be comfortable with the EV environment, whether Ford chooses to produce them, or not...

Agree that's their right as an independent dealership we cannot force them. But Ford can cut their supply and hold their kick back cash or whatever to let them learn the lesson.

 

[benderofbows]

Im in southern pines. Truck ended up at crossroads ford in Apex. The Crossroads Ford in Southern Pines is the dealership which said it wouldn’t work on my truck.

I'm in Pinehurst and purchased from Cooper Ford in Carthage, NC. So far (12k miles) I haven't needed service, but it's discouraging to think Crossroads Southern Pines wouldn't work on my truck since I didn't buy it there! Is Evin Myrick still there? He used to help me with my 2009 F-150.

 

[Acottrell]

I'm in Pinehurst and purchased from Cooper Ford in Carthage, NC. So far (12k miles) I haven't needed service, but it's discouraging to think Crossroads Southern Pines wouldn't work on my truck since I didn't buy it there! Is Evin Myrick still there? He used to help me with my 2009 F-150.

No idea on Evin as I’d be using Jon for all things ICE there before the lightning.

If you go to Apex though they appear to be on top of their game. I spoke with the SA Don yesterday who was assigned to my truck. They had already gotten the parts in and were working on it yesterday and showing 88% charged now. So likely done by today is my guess. That’s right at one week from a tow truck drop off to ready for pickup. I can’t speak to their loaner program as I’m away from home for work and my wife has her car to drive while I’m gone.

 

[rdr854]

This reminds me of when I moved from Virginia to Oklahoma in 1982 for school. I rolled into the local Dodge dealer in Oklahoma City for some warranty work on my car and the first words out of the Service Advisor‘s mouth was did you buy the car here since we don’t see your name. I was told that they would not work on the car until they figured out that I had Virginia plates on the car.

Needless to say, I found another dealer for my future work who was willing to work on the car and was honest.

 

[hturnerfamily]

this happens a lot in the RVing world... buy a 'camping world' RV, then take it to another 'camping world' dealer, only to find out they don't work on RVs purchased at 'other' dealers, even though they are also a 'camping world' dealer... crazy, but true. Forest River or Thor or any other manufacturer has NO say in what independent 'branded' dealers do, even though you and I might 'assume' that just because they are a 'xyz' dealer, they 'must' then work on our RV... no, they don't 'have' to, but they can choose to, if they have time, and the employees, and are not overwhelmed already by all their OWN customers...

Ford dealers, Chevy dealers, Ram dealers, etc., are all independent. They are NOT owned by their 'brand', and they are not prescribed or REQUIRED to do 'anything' the brand may suggest, 'after the sale'. Brands are also not going to 'hold back' dealer orders simply because 'we' don't like what that particular dealer does, or doesn't do... Ford is in the SALES business - they are going to SHIP all the vehicles they can, to ALL the dealers they can, ALL THE TIME. Only the DEALER is in the 'service' business, which is BEYOND the brand's control: the dealer holds all the cards in that respect. Heck, you could have dealers who might ONLY sale the Ford product, and NOT have a service department at all.

We purchased a brand new KIA Sorento PHEV several years ago, at a dealer, in a state 750 miles away, with no intention of ever going 'back' to that dealer for any reason. If my 'local' Kia dealer decides that they will not work on my Kia, since I didn't buy it from them, that's not the 'dealer's' problem, that's MY problem. If I am traveling, and have an issue where 'that' local dealer would not work on my vehicle because I didn't buy it from them, I would have to use a independent shop to do the work, or find a Kia dealer that would... I don't get the reason that some will bristle because of this - it's the nature of the business, whether we 'like' it, or not.

 

[AmandaB]

I bought my truck out of state. My nearest Ford EV dealership is 40 mins away, and so far has done two routine maintenance and three recalls.

 

[Bigisland Guy]

I am in a location that has numerous dealerships and several are EV certified. The issue here is properly trained personnel. Over the course of owning our Lightning, we have been to Four dealerships for various CPS/Recalls and only one of the dealerships has the people who come through each time. It is less about the dealerships but more about the people. I think Ford and the Autoworkers union need to sponsor training programs in the Jr. Colleges that train technicians similar to what Tesla does here and in Northern California to get the labor they need.

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