Dealer Maintenance Partially Complete? Do I trust them?

[TROGDOR!!!]

Hi everyone.

I brought my 2.5L AWD Hybrid (2025) in for an oil change at my local ford dealer at 8000km (5000miles) and they argued with me that semi-synth was the oil to use when I knew it was full synth. I insisted that they use the correct oil and they did so begrudgingly.

Now, I bring it in for its 16,000km service (10,000 miles). This time I bring my own oil and filter because, frankly, I don't trust them to use the right stuff. However, I pay for "the works" service with customer provided oil/filter.

When I pick the truck up and get home, I see that they didn't rotate the tires, noting it was "not needed." At 16,000km without a rotation? That would mean when I bring it in for 24,000km it would get its first tire rotation? Doesn't that seem extremely long?

Further, It seems they didn't inspect the brakes, e-brake etc.

The service schedule for this truck says:
"Here's what happens at your 16,000km checkup:

-inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, brake linings, hoses and parking brake.
-inspect engine cooling system

etc etc etc"

They didn't even do the first line item. Their reasoning? Well, a tire rotation wasn't needed so they didn't take the tires off so couldn't inspect the brakes...

Also, the truck went in with tire pressure of 35psi (which is what's on the door jam) but left with 33psi so it seems they let air out of my tires for some reason.

There is an active safety recall on this truck and they didn't let me know about it.

What are everyone's thoughts on this? I'm inclined not to trust this dealer for service but everyone tells me that every other dealer in the Edmonton area is even less trust worthy and that this is the best one.

Should I be avoiding Ford for all service? Is this totally normal and I'm just over-reacting?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

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[HeyBales]

Avoid them.
You'll notice there is also a difference between inspect cooling system, and inspect the strength.
Probably doesn't matter now, but that strength reading is what may call for a fluid change before the called for schedule.
Also drive shafts - did they look for oil seeping out. You are 25MY with newer axles - but still what if band wasn't put on straight and water is getting in.
Tire rotation called for - why not.

Ya - avoid them.

 

[Carlitos_92]

That dealer is not trustworthy, no. At least not the service department.

The tires should've been rotated.

The brakes should've been checked, but they get a point for at least being honest about it.

I would not assume they touched the tire pressure. A 2-psi swing can easily happen depending on weather, sunlight, and a bunch of other things.

 

[TROGDOR!!!]

That dealer is not trustworthy, no. At least not the service department.

The tires should've been rotated.

The brakes should've been checked, but they get a point for at least being honest about it.

I would not assume they touched the tire pressure. A 2-psi swing can easily happen depending on weather, sunlight, and a bunch of other things.

That's a fair point but what I mean is that my tire pressure is at 35psi every morning after it's been sitting overnight (no sunlight at this time). Now it's at 33psi at the same time every morning. I only see it because I use the fordpass app to remote start each morning and it shows the PSI.

Huge deal? No, I have an air compressor except it kind of looks like the guy who did it thought the correct PSI was 33.

 

[Carlitos_92]

That's a fair point but what I mean is that my tire pressure is at 35psi every morning after it's been sitting overnight (no sunlight at this time). Now it's at 33psi at the same time every morning. I only see it because I use the fordpass app to remote start each morning and it shows the PSI.

Huge deal? No, I have an air compressor except it kind of looks like the guy who did it thought the correct PSI was 33.

If they are too lazy to rotate the tires on a lift, I seriously doubt they would expend the effort to fiddle with the tire pressure. I would not assume they touched it.

As you said, you can easily top them off regardless of the reason they are low. There are plenty of other red flags with that dealer.

 

[Gpp]

About 60 years ago i ran into this same problem and decided i needed to learn to work on all my cars myself

 

[huunvubu]

Hi everyone.

I brought my 2.5L AWD Hybrid (2025) in for an oil change at my local ford dealer at 8000km (5000miles) and they argued with me that semi-synth was the oil to use when I knew it was full synth. I insisted that they use the correct oil and they did so begrudgingly.

Now, I bring it in for its 16,000km service (10,000 miles). This time I bring my own oil and filter because, frankly, I don't trust them to use the right stuff. However, I pay for "the works" service with customer provided oil/filter.

When they argued with you and stated that you should use the wrong oil it was clear that they were untrustworthy.

Why did you believe that they would do better on the second visit when it was clear that they were untrustworthy the first time.

Now you are again asking "are they trustworthy"?

The answer was NO on the first visit and absolutely a clear NO on the second and hopefully last visit.

 

[TROGDOR!!!]

When they argued with you and stated that you should use the wrong oil it was clear that they were untrustworthy.

Why did you believe that they would do better on the second visit when it was clear that they were untrustworthy the first time.

Now you are again asking "are they trustworthy"?

The answer was NO on the first visit and absolutely a clear NO on the second and hopefully last visit.

Fair points! In answer to your question: I spoke to the service manager and he told me the advisor was brand new. I accepted him at his word. He promised it wouldn't happen again.

As for why I gave them a second chance: Well, as I said, most dealers in my area have a TERRIBLE reputiation. This one is the only one that has a decent reputation.

If I decide not to come back, the issue is then jumping from the pan into the fire.

 

[dhaskit]

I wouldn’t go back.
Jiffy Lube is a better choice than these pirates. They obviously don’t need your business very bad.
Good luck to you, my friend.

 

[zen_]

I'll say it every time this topic comes up. If you don't trust shop (dealer, chain, independent, doesn't matter) to do the work right, then there's no point in going there unless it's the dealer for recalls or warranty work you are entitled to.

They do minimum on oil changes and courtesy inspections because most shops work on a flat rate, and they guy actually doing the work gets paid something like 0.2 hours now to do an oil change, and 0 for the inspection. Not saying it's right, just for context. A reputable independent shop will probably do more on the small jobs they make very little on hoping to retain loyal customers that keep coming back over the years.

 

[HeyBales]

That's a fair point but what I mean is that my tire pressure is at 35psi every morning after it's been sitting overnight (no sunlight at this time). Now it's at 33psi at the same time every morning. I only see it because I use the fordpass app to remote start each morning and it shows the PSI.

Huge deal? No, I have an air compressor except it kind of looks like the guy who did it thought the correct PSI was 33.

Warmer in the shop than outside for you?
They could have set at what their gauge said was 35, which may be more accurate, besides temp difference.

 

[HeyBales]

Fair points! In answer to your question: I spoke to the service manager and he told me the advisor was brand new. I accepted him at his word. He promised it wouldn't happen again.

As for why I gave them a second chance: Well, as I said, most dealers in my area have a TERRIBLE reputiation. This one is the only one that has a decent reputation.

If I decide not to come back, the issue is then jumping from the pan into the fire.

And there very well could be a difference between their "fast-lane" services like you got - and their actual repair section of the shop.

I'd check what the reputation was based on - maintenance items, or working on problems?

May want to keep them on good terms for the repair aspect, even if you won't touch them for maintenance.
To that point - one of the other dealers may have opposite reputations.

 

[pigsareus]

Hi everyone.

I brought my 2.5L AWD Hybrid (2025) in for an oil change at my local ford dealer at 8000km (5000miles) and they argued with me that semi-synth was the oil to use when I knew it was full synth. I insisted that they use the correct oil and they did so begrudgingly.

Now, I bring it in for its 16,000km service (10,000 miles). This time I bring my own oil and filter because, frankly, I don't trust them to use the right stuff. However, I pay for "the works" service with customer provided oil/filter.

When I pick the truck up and get home, I see that they didn't rotate the tires, noting it was "not needed." At 16,000km without a rotation? That would mean when I bring it in for 24,000km it would get its first tire rotation? Doesn't that seem extremely long?

Further, It seems they didn't inspect the brakes, e-brake etc.

The service schedule for this truck says:
"Here's what happens at your 16,000km checkup:

-inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, brake linings, hoses and parking brake.
-inspect engine cooling system

etc etc etc"

They didn't even do the first line item. Their reasoning? Well, a tire rotation wasn't needed so they didn't take the tires off so couldn't inspect the brakes...

Also, the truck went in with tire pressure of 35psi (which is what's on the door jam) but left with 33psi so it seems they let air out of my tires for some reason.

There is an active safety recall on this truck and they didn't let me know about it.

What are everyone's thoughts on this? I'm inclined not to trust this dealer for service but everyone tells me that every other dealer in the Edmonton area is even less trust worthy and that this is the best one.

Should I be avoiding Ford for all service? Is this totally normal and I'm just over-reacting?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

they are blithering idiots, go somewhere else if you can. If they are that dumb that they think that just because they don't see a rotation is needed that they also just assume the brakes are 'just great' then you need to either bring that up to someone who is actually in charge over there or just leave completely. Maybe back in '22 or '23 a dealership might not know what oil to put in because they had few Mavs come in but, honestly, if they have been putting in the 'wrong' oil for 2 or 3 years on Mavs that come thru it's pretty obvious that (1) they are idiots (2) they have the wrong specs showing up on their screens (3) they make more money on a blend than synth (even though they charge more for synth). Did you show them the manual where it specifically says Full Synth? You didn't get your full money's worth on this flawed 'inspection' - you should either demand a partial refund or give them one more chance to do it right. This dump is bad news.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

A 2-psi swing can easily happen been parking in the lot waiting for you to show up
I won't be worry in this particular matter

 

[TROGDOR!!!]

OK.

I called Zender Ford and spoke to the service manager. He says they never check for safety recalls when doing oil changes. He says that it's too many screens to click on and too many hoops to jump through. My last was a Toyota and they always managed to do it. His response: yeah, that's not something we do.

When I asked why the tires weren't rotated he said that they didn't need it (at 16k). I told him that if I followed the oil life monitor, my next oil change would be at about 32k and he said never to follow the OLM and that they're every 8km. I told him that ford says to follow their OLM, that's what it's there for. He says "Ford doesn't say that. It's every 8k".

When I asked him why no brake check was done, he said that there was no brake check done because there was no tire rotation so they couldn't access the brakes. I asked why, when it's up on the lift anyway, they couldn't remove the tires to check the brakes as required at the 16k service. He responded again that because there was no tire rotation.

I said it sounded like he was just giving a bunch of excuses for not completing the work to which he responded "I'm not giving you excuses: I'm just telling you why."

I then ended the call.

Zender Ford in Spruce Grove Alberta.

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