I bought an '04 ford focus from main ford dealer now they tell me i have no warranty!?

Question

I've had it 5 months and the whole ignition system needs replacing which they admit is a "known problem" but I have to pay for it! It doesn't quite add up to me. Am i missing something here?

silerst....where does it say early 04 in my question?and although the 3yr factory warranty may have expired, I find it very unfair that a known ford problem should leave me out of pocket so soon after buying the vehicle, which incidentally wasn't in 04 as you may have assumed

Answer 1

Yes, you are missing something.
FACTS.
You probably won't LIKE what I say here, but I am gonna give you the (sometimes brutal) FACTS.

Here is a copy of the manufacturer warranty for your 2004 Focus:
http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pubs/content/~WO4FOC/~MUS~LEN/40/04focwa1e.pdf

The warranty started the day it was purchased NEW (1st owner) The warranty goes with the vehicle regardless of how many owners.
The "Bumper to Bumper" warranty would cover the ignition system IF it is still within 36 months & has under 36,000 miles.
When you purchased the vehicle (apparently 5 months ago) you were given the option to purchase an extended service policy. If you chose NOT to extend your coverage, that was YOUR decision.
Niether the manufacturer nor the dealer are obligated to repair any part or system that is not covered by an existing warranty regardless of how long you have owned the vehicle.

Parts & vehicles DO wear out. That is why ALL manufacturers have warranties & All dealers offer the option of extentions.
No wrong doing on anybodys part ....................
(so don't think or act like you are a victim....forgive me for I am always brutally honest.....don't shoot the messenger)

THAT being said.....
You MAY be able to get some assistance, if you can be dilomatic.
IF (as you say) this a "known problem" then there would be a record or TSB about it.
IF there is a TSB, you need to get a copy of it & call the customer assistance phone number (which is printed in the warranty booklet that I supplied you with).
If you explain the 'known' problem to Customer Assistance they MAY offer to assist you. Remember that they are not obligated to assist, but they are the only ones who can authorize an exception to the policies in effect.

Remember to be diplomatic & respectful & you may get results.
By the way most TSB's are on file at the NHTSA's - odi site
It is not the easiest site to navigate but i'm sure you can figure it out.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm

Good Luck

Answer 2

Warrantys only last for 3 years from when the car was new, so if it was done in early 04, then yeah it'll be up by now.

However you may have been given a 1 year warranty from the dealer when you bought it, if this was so, you are entitled to get the work done on the warranty. Make sure you did get one when you bought it, not every dealer will hand one out when you buy a car from them.

Ford's aren't known to be great cars for reliability anyway

Answer 3

Given that it's only a 3 year old car and the problem was known on those vehicles, reputable dealers will usually try to strike a fair deal.
When I worked for a Ford dealership, we would sometimes split the cost since in situations like yours. (newer car, known problem)
Sometimes people would come from other dealerships and it was a great way of creating loyalty.
Be fair to the customer. As long as the customer isn't expecting something for nothing makes for a win win situation.
Sad thing is some managers don't get that. And they are only looking at the bottom line in the here and now. Not in a couple years when they trade.

Answer 4

You really have to pay attention when buying a car from a dealership. You should make them explain to you what was on the warranty, because a lot of times they leave it up to you to find out and you assume something is covered, but it actually isn't and was never covered under the warranty. Then you have a major problem and you think that they left you high and dry. If this problem was covered they would fix it. You should have know what you were paying for when you bought the car in the first place. A large car company like ford isn't going to break the law to keep from spending 200 dollars fixing your ford focus.

Answer 5

Under your rights as a consumer, Trading standards state that you should be covered for 3 months, however the EU state that you should be covered for 6. Whether this is a manufacturers warranty or dealer guarantee is irrelevant. The condition of this is something along the lines of that the fault mustn't have been caused by wear and tear or by abuse and if it was something present when you bought the car then they will have to fix it as a known fault and they as the professionals were selling you something that was faulty. It would be worth going back to the dealer and mentioning that the EU requires that they give 6 months cover and would they like you to involve trading standards?

Answer 6

He guessed at early 2004 as most 2004s are already starting to get out of warranty due to date of sale being more than 3 years or more than 36,000 miles.

But the whole ignition system? Is it the ignition key cylinder or is it the vehicle engine ignition system?

If it's the selling dealer, I'd ask what kind of help they could give on this situation as some dealers rather help out a customer than have them unsatisfied...

Answer 7

First off, shop around for a better price. Stay polite and all. Ive never paid full price for anything at a dealership even without a warranty. They will usually offer to do it half price or something if youre good about it and act properly. They have programs just to make you like their dealership and buy your next car there by giving you cheap repairs, try to get in on it.

Answer 8

Even if there is a new car warranty on the vehicle, if it is not kept up to date by the previous owner the car yard has every right to call the warranty void. I believe this is utter garbage but what can we do against corporations. Go somewhere else to get it fixed, you may find that they will charge you less than the dealership, and now that you have no warranty you are not obliged to use the dealership for general maintence on your car.

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Answer 10

Normal Warrantry is 30Days (No used)

Some company's will give you 1 year EG Screwfix Direct Ltd ( Broken or Faulty items )