I tried going back to dealer where I bought truck for service, but....

[paval3]

The dealer I bought my 2021 Ranger from is about 35 minutes away. Neither local Ford dealer had a light colored Ranger in stock with the 302A package so I bought it where I could find one.
Anyway.... I put less than 4500 miles on a year and I don't like to go more than 5,000 miles without an oil change and rotating tires. So thus far, that has aligned up with my yearly state inspection. I had been taking it to one of the local Ford dealers for any service even though I didn't buy the truck there.

My truck salesman is someone I also know from his dealership doing business with our business. He's really been after me to bring bring my truck back to his dealership, where I bought the truck, when I want/need any service. I told him I prefer to go to the dealer closer to me and asked why does it matter? Never got a clear reply on that.

So inspection and oil change is due next month. I just tried making an appt with the dealership where I bought the truck. Making appt was going along fine for "The Works - Full Synthetic" and state inspection... until I got to the part about wanting the hood alignment fixed and the driver's side rear door alignment looked at (actually I can live with the door, it's not that bad, but hey... if it's an easy fix, why not take care of it). My gosh, you would have thought I was trying to pull a fast one... omg, she said truck is almost two years old, she will have to have (I think she said) assessor or adjuster look at it! I told her it came from the factory like this and I was going to just live with it, but too many people have commented on what a crappy job Ford must be doing on quality control and pointed out my mis-aligned hood so I figured if I'm coming in for an oil change and inspection, I'd try to get it all done at once. She said they advise people that if they have any "fit" issues to have it done when truck is new right after they bought it. OMG I told her, "You know what, this is becoming more complicated than it needs to be, I'll just take the truck to the local Ford dealer."

So I made the appt with the local dealer. When i talk to my salesman friend, I'm going to make sure he hears how I tried to make the appt with his dealership first.

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[OFC Ranger]

Not to excuse her poor customer service (if its under warranty its under friggin warranty), but the hood alignment issue really is a 5 minute job.

All you do is loose the handful of top side bolts under the hood for the fender and jimmy it into a better position and then tighten back down.

On some things, even if covered under warranty, doing it oneself is peace of mind. Dealership service seems to be hit or miss across the entire network of any dealer. You take it in for a 5 minute alignment of the hood, it comes back with something else wrong because they told the intern to go do it.

The intern is usually some 17 year old kid named Jeb who's squatted truck on deep dish negative 100 offset wheels is sitting out back. A dude named Murphy generally follows this kid around with everything he does in life.

Murphy doesn't recognize our laws, he is a law all his own.

A man who brings even the most confident human being to their knees.

 

[Trigganometry]

From behind the curtains I can understand why a dealer might balk at a 2 year warranty fix for fit and finish. All automotive assembly falls under ISO standards. So when an issue like this arises it gets logged and added to a spread sheet of continuous improvements the factory makes on the lines to keep this from happening. The VIN number recorded will show the day it happened, time it happened and the employee that probably did it.

Two years down the road that becomes water under the dam. Dealer might also have difficulty getting reimbursed for the work preformed to make the corrections. Stick to your guns though. It’s still covered and should be corrected

 

[paval3]

Not to excuse her poor customer service (if its under warranty its under friggin warranty), but the hood alignment issue really is a 5 minute job.

All you do is loose the handful of top side bolts under the hood for the fender and jimmy it into a better position and then tighten back down.

On some things, even if covered under warranty, doing it oneself is peace of mind. Dealership service seems to be hit or miss across the entire network of any dealer. You take it in for a 5 minute alignment of the hood, it comes back with something else wrong because they told the intern to go do it.

The intern is usually some 17 year old kid named Jeb who's squatted truck on deep dish negative 100 offset wheels is sitting out back. A dude named Murphy generally follows this kid around with everything he does in life.

I am a woman in late 60's with RA. Believe me, if I could do it myself I would. I just don't have the strength in my hands and wrists from the degeneration to my joints.

 

[OFC Ranger]

I am a woman in late 60's with RA. Believe me, if I could do it myself I would. I just don't have the strength in my hands and wrists from the degeneration to my joints.

Can you go sweet talk the neighbor's husband? /eyebrow wiggle

 

[paval3]

From behind the curtains I can understand why a dealer might balk at a 2 year warranty fix for fit and finish. All automotive assembly falls under ISO standards. So when an issue like this arises it gets logged and added to a spread sheet of continuous improvements the factory makes on the lines to keep this from happening. The VIN number recorded will show the day it happened, time it happened and the employee that probably did it.

Two years down the road that becomes water under the dam. Dealer might also have difficulty getting reimbursed for the work preformed to make the corrections. Stick to your guns though. It’s still covered and should be corrected

I can understand what you are saying as far as their end of things.

 

[paval3]

Can you go sweet talk the neighbor's husband? /eyebrow wiggle

LOL I don't know how that would go with my husband!

No, can't have my husband try to do it. He has many good qualities... but I won't let him pick up a tool near my truck!

 

[paval3]

BTW, I do have the 8 year Ford ESP plan. I just turned 8000 miles on my truck. Will be 2 years old end of April.

If they have sold any decent number of Rangers, I can't believe they have not run into the hood and door alignment issue with other customers.

 

[Rp930]

Why not talk to your salesman friend and have him discuss it with the service manager.

 

[paval3]

Why not talk to your salesman friend and have him discuss it with the service manager.

Soon as I got off the phone, I called the local dealer's service appt and got the appt, no hazzle, no questions. It's actually more convenient for me to go to the local dealer anyway but I thought I'd give the dealer where i bought the truck a try to appease my salesman friend.

 

[ranger 2020]

When I worked at dealerships the things that were called adjustments were only covered for 12 mo/12,000 mile.

 

[JasonTremor]

I adjusted my driver rear door after I got my truck. Mine was a tad low overall and the striker in the door jamb was lifting the door up ever so slightly when I would close it. Had to loosen both hinges and lift up on entire door. Having done restorations and body work in a prior life, it was about 15 minute job for me.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

That sucks. Were you asking for the adjustments to be done under warranty? Or were you willing to pay book time for the work? There might have been a miscommunication in that case the dealer was assuming you wanted them to do it on their dime. If you had let them know you were willing to pay for it as part of your service it might have changed their attitude but it might have also changed their timeline as well.

Just a guess on my part too.

 

[paval3]

That sucks. Were you asking for the adjustments to be done under warranty? Or were you willing to pay book time for the work? There might have been a miscommunication in that case the dealer was assuming you wanted them to do it on their dime. If you had let them know you were willing to pay for it as part of your service it might have changed their attitude but it might have also changed their timeline as well.

Just a guess on my part too.

We never got to talk about "warranty" with the dealer where I bought the truck, but I am expecting it to be under warranty. I don't expect any problem about warranty with the dealer I ended up making the appt.

 

[subquark]

I am a woman in late 60's with RA. Believe me, if I could do it myself I would. I just don't have the strength in my hands and wrists from the degeneration to my joints.

Can you go sweet talk the neighbor's husband? /eyebrow wiggle

I got a feeling that she wouldn't take crap off a dealer - she's on this forum after all. =)

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