Sad Maverick Owner. So mad at Ford...

[gkendric]

So, I'm not really sure where to direct my frustrations. Maybe, people here can help me see a proper path to peace.

My 2022 Mav Hybrid XL had to be taken into the dealership (Brighton Ford in Brighton, Co.) where I originally purchased the vehicle as the powertrain failed at around 18k miles.

The vehicle was inspected and it was determined that the powertrain had faulty connectors and needed replaced. A common problem for the first year models.

Good news right?

So, while they were doing a final test drive the vehicle was rear ended, and hard. So hard the vehicle was pushed into a F-150 with a trailer hitch.

The dealership calls me and basically says "So, good news and bad news. We fixed the issue and your free to come pick up your truck and return the loaner, but your truck was involved in an accident and you need to have it taken to a body shop as we don't recommend driving it. But, it is drivable, and you can come pick it up and return the loaner."

So, I take my loaner back and they drive my truck around for me. Very serious damage front and back. I finally get a chance to take it in to a body shop for an estimate, and I've been told that the damage is so extensive they are amazed it's not wobbling as I drove it down the highway as the vehicle frame is twisted and bent. My radiator is demolished and I'm surprised I've not had issues with that, and you can feel the bend when standing inside the bed. Basically, my vehicle is totalled..

What really pisses me off is that if they total it our and refuse to repair the truck not only am I out of my beautiful blue truck, but I'm out a year of my life that I waited for my custom ordered truck, the $3k cash I put down, but also no vehicle on the market today comes with a 1.9% APR...if I have to buy a new vehicle I'm going to lose my shit and sit outside Brighton Ford and picket daily letting potential customers know that they will destroy your vehicle and leave you with the bill.

Anyway, I just needed to rant.

So, am I wrong for thinking that Ford should be making me whole? The dealership basically told me "It was not our fault so it's not our responsibility to return the vehicle in the condition it was received."

Aside from the fact that ALL THIS was THEIR fault, the dealership that is. if it had been your fault and you had done this then not only would you have been totally responsible for all the cost to put you right but the vehicle value would be decreased greatly due to a serious accident and I consider this a SERIOUS accident. This is where I believe you need an attorney, unfortunately, and need someone to look after your interest not only to repair the things done (possibly get a totally new truck) but make up for the loss in resale value due to the accident. No the dealer won't make good, you can bet, but again that is why you need an attorney.

Remember if this had been YOU and you had done this to one of their vehicles then you would be held responsible and they would have demanded total restitution from you. You should expect no less.

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[Deleted member 7089]

Sad Maverick Owner. So mad at Brighton Ford...

Fixed it for you.

 

[REMUB40]

Had my car in Chevy dealership for an oil change. I watched them pull it out to park and waited. After a while they pulled in back in. Four guys standing around the front. Some guy in a company truck backed into it. Did not want do give up any info and tried to leave. The said we're calling the cops. Dealer gave me a loaner and took care if the repair. I guess they went after the other guy. This was on the lot though.

 

[05FordGT]

It's not the dealer's fault. That is why we are required to carry insurance for the vehicle. When you sign the repair order it is one of those things in the small print that you are acknowledging, that the dealer is not responsible for damages that would be covered by your insurance. If it was the fault of one of their employees for the damage, they should cover any deductible but if it was the driver from the other car, you will have to go after them. You just need to go through your insurance company. They know the proper channels and have the lawyers to handle it.

Let me tell you, that means absolutely NOTHING! And I'm saying that as someone who sold cars at a franchised Ford dealer for 23 years. We had that on our night drop envelopes, and regular service envelopes. If something happened to someone's car while it was on our lot or one of the techs were driving, our insurance is covering it. That's why dealers have multiple insurance polices for multiple reasons. And this is one of them. That form means nothing to a lawyer. They will side step that INSTANTLY.

 

[05FordGT]

I used to work at a large Ford dealer that didn't have it's own body shop.

Same here. We used a local 3rd party body shop and everything worked out. Once my dealership got bought out by the large area conglomerate, they have their own shop and we stopped using the local 3rd party.

 

[NedF]

Jumping on the bandwagon (had a brief stint in the insurance industry) to agree with these last couple comments. Everyone's saying lawyers, and they're right, but your insurance company has their own lawyers that you don't need to mess around with or pay in this situation. File the claim, tell them what happened, they'll bend over backwards to make sure that the responsible party (or that party's insurance company) gets the bill. Most likely, the dealer has coverage for when their employee's are operating a vehicle, your company goes after them. That company can decide if they want to pursue the at-fault driver's insurance, and so on. Might take some time, but I'd expect some action from the dealer once they get calls from your insurance and if not, your insurance company will sue on your behalf.

I think maybe this was what the dealer anticipated would happen but failed to communicate to the OP well enough. There are standard processes in place that protect both parties. The OP's insurance ensures the repairs or outcome is the best for the OP (and the OP's insurance company) and the dealer's insurance does the same for them (the driver (dealer employee) may or may not have any liability) the 3rd. party (the person driving the vehicle that hit the Maverick) will be the on the hood as well. The OP might be out the deductible if the accident is ruled 50/50 at fault. If the dealer does not step up and cover the deductible then small claims court would be an option in most cases. This is why I would never accept an offer from a person at fault to pay for the repairs (without involving insurance). You do not have a fall back if things are not repaired properly!

 

[jsus]

Fixed it for you.

FTFY: https://www.brightonfordco.com/

https://www.brightonford.com/ is located in Brighton, Michigan, not Colorado.

 

[2022EOW]

Where is the OP? Tells this tale of how mad he is of Ford and them you never hear from him again. the actual fault of this whole thing rests with the person that rear ended the truck in the first place. The servicing dealer, since they had control of the vehicle when it was hit should take responsibility for seeing it through with that person. Other than that, how is it the fault of the dealer that was performing a normal test drive and was hit by another person?

 

[WNYEscapee]

So, I'm not really sure where to direct my frustrations. Maybe, people here can help me see a proper path to peace.

Sorry, but that is on the dealership, and that's why dealerships also have insurance. Yes, they should have called you to inform you that your repairs were completed, and it should have stopped at the "Good news/Bad news" there. They should have instantly then informed you that your vehicle was involved in and accident and what/where the repairs to your vehicle would take place. They never should have let you retake possession of your vehicle until it had been determined what condition it was in, safe or not.

While it was in their hands they were solely responsible for your vehicle -- them and the driver who hit your vehicle -- NOT YOU! Unless your state's laws are different from here, they are responsible for the repairs!

 

[Vols44]

So, you took your Maverick in to a Ford dealership to have repairs done, they test drove it and got into an accident while a Ford dealership employee was driving it? I kind of think they are 100% responsible for all the repairs since they got into an accident with your Maverick and provide a loaner while it's under repair.

This is like them saying we had your Maverick on the lift and it fell off, now take it somewhere to get an estimate for repairs and get it fixed!

OP, why are you working for the dealer. Make them fix their problem.

Ford assembled an awesome truck so the thread title is misleading. Go on other social media platforms and your local news to highlight the shoddy work and people at Brighton Ford, not the one with it's main offices in Dearborn, Michigan.

 

[jeffro650r]

Why would you even accept the truck back??....... I would have been like fix my shit and you get the loaner back.. bye...

 

[Montana]

Why would you even accept the truck back??....... I would have been like fix my shit and you get the loaner back.. bye...

I think it happened while OP was waiting at the dealership for a quick service. No mention of a loaner or having it sit on the lot for any period etc etc.

But yea, as others have said... posted thursday and no update since. I mean, I don't expect to be there when OP figures out the solution but you'd think with their questioning they would be replying to this thread.

Most of us just want closure and for that dealership to be held accountable and also to avoided like the plague. Assuming things actually happened as OP described and was basically told to kick rocks? I dunno... it's not the greatest amount of details.

 

[shurmanter]

I think it happened while OP was waiting at the dealership for a quick service. No mention of a loaner or having it sit on the lot for any period etc etc.

But yea, as others have said... posted thursday and no update since. I mean, I don't expect to be there when OP figures out the solution but you'd think with their questioning they would be replying to this thread.

Most of us just want closure and for that dealership to be held accountable and also to avoided like the plague. Assuming things actually happened as OP described and was basically told to kick rocks? I dunno... it's not the greatest amount of details.

They specifically call out returning a loaner in the OP.

 

[AHarris67]

In a word: LAWYER

 

[Montana]

They specifically call out returning a loaner in the OP.

Sorry overlooked it. Been 3 or 4 days since I actually read it and left my initial comment.

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