16RRGT
Roush Phase 1
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2016
- Threads
- 8
- Messages
- 83
- Reaction score
- 18
- Location
- SW Washington
- Vehicle(s)
- 16 GT; 85, 69 Camaro, 2000 F350 Dsl Dually
- Thread starter
- #1
Back in May of 2019, my AC evaporator gave it up. I bought the car new in August of 2016 (it's a 2016 GT) so, under TSB 18-2256, they repaired it for nothing at a Ford dealership.
Well, 23 months and change, +10,400 miles or so later, it failed.
Again. The exact, same, part.
I took it to a different dealership and attempted to have it repaired. They told me that it's not covered under warranty, and this time, not only would I need the evaporator replaced, but the compressor as well. Total was around $2400+tax.
So, I called Ford.
Meanwhile I had discovered that when Ford repaired an item, the repair came with a 24 month warranty and unlimited miles.
But NOT if the repair was made under warranty and you didn't pay for it.
Pay for it, and you get the 24 month warranty. Get it repaired because Ford screwed it up in the first place, like they screwed up either the evaporator design or the installation of the evaporator, and you get a 12 month warranty.
Now, this is, in my opinion, obviously wrong, obviously unfair and obviously expensive.
Ford either stands behind their repairs and spare parts or they don't. Whether I pay for it or not.
An interesting thing happened once Ford got involved. Suddenly the requirement to replace the compressor, well, disappeared. Suddenly, the bill dropped around $600 and the compressor requirement was off the table. (I offered to, and did, scan the invoice from the TSB repair which was very helpful to the woman on the other end of the line... and which showed the compressor was not on the parts list under the TSB)
Now, I'm not sure why the dealer initially felt the compressor needed to be replaced. It was not replaced under the TSB the first time, so why would it need to be replaced this time?
That, however, is neither here nor there.
Ford, for their part, ultimately offered to cover 80% of the bill, which I gratefully accepted... given the $2700 or so including tax bill I was looking at initially, now reduced to about $360 or so including tax with the removal of the compressor part and installation.
My concern now is that this part (which I had asked to find out if it has been improved or redesigned in any way... and was told by the service manager the part, R3Z*19860*B CORE - AIR CONDITIONING EVAP , was unchanged from when it was installed in the factory new, meaning that both the FIRST replacement evaporator and the SECOND one they're putting in now will be PRECISELY the same as the one that failed initially under the TSB... which ALSO failed) and a few miles down the road I'll be picking up the tab for THAT failure as well... which will be evaporator #4.
So, here are the takeaways:
1. Dealer repairs under warranty are only covered for 12 months and 12,000 miles.
2. Dealer repairs you PAY for are covered for 24 months and unlimited miles.
3. In this instance and presumably all others, you cannot expect a Ford repair to last a reasonable amount of time or miles (I know, I know... how do you define reasonable?) and if you are no longer under warranty, expect to go out of pocket on the repair.
4. If a similar situation happens to you, call Ford customer service directly. ( (800) 392-3673 ) Have your facts together; hang on to your paperwork and keep it somewhere you can lay hands on it if you need it.
5. Be nice. Ask questions. Paint them a word picture of what's going on. It appears they are willing to help. If not 100%, at least most of it or some of it.
Extended warranties might have been an option but who could foresee a second evaporator giving it up at less than 11,000 miles?
I hope some of you find this helpful in dealing with your own warranty issues.
Well, 23 months and change, +10,400 miles or so later, it failed.
Again. The exact, same, part.
I took it to a different dealership and attempted to have it repaired. They told me that it's not covered under warranty, and this time, not only would I need the evaporator replaced, but the compressor as well. Total was around $2400+tax.
So, I called Ford.
Meanwhile I had discovered that when Ford repaired an item, the repair came with a 24 month warranty and unlimited miles.
But NOT if the repair was made under warranty and you didn't pay for it.
Pay for it, and you get the 24 month warranty. Get it repaired because Ford screwed it up in the first place, like they screwed up either the evaporator design or the installation of the evaporator, and you get a 12 month warranty.
Now, this is, in my opinion, obviously wrong, obviously unfair and obviously expensive.
Ford either stands behind their repairs and spare parts or they don't. Whether I pay for it or not.
An interesting thing happened once Ford got involved. Suddenly the requirement to replace the compressor, well, disappeared. Suddenly, the bill dropped around $600 and the compressor requirement was off the table. (I offered to, and did, scan the invoice from the TSB repair which was very helpful to the woman on the other end of the line... and which showed the compressor was not on the parts list under the TSB)
Now, I'm not sure why the dealer initially felt the compressor needed to be replaced. It was not replaced under the TSB the first time, so why would it need to be replaced this time?
That, however, is neither here nor there.
Ford, for their part, ultimately offered to cover 80% of the bill, which I gratefully accepted... given the $2700 or so including tax bill I was looking at initially, now reduced to about $360 or so including tax with the removal of the compressor part and installation.
My concern now is that this part (which I had asked to find out if it has been improved or redesigned in any way... and was told by the service manager the part, R3Z*19860*B CORE - AIR CONDITIONING EVAP , was unchanged from when it was installed in the factory new, meaning that both the FIRST replacement evaporator and the SECOND one they're putting in now will be PRECISELY the same as the one that failed initially under the TSB... which ALSO failed) and a few miles down the road I'll be picking up the tab for THAT failure as well... which will be evaporator #4.
So, here are the takeaways:
1. Dealer repairs under warranty are only covered for 12 months and 12,000 miles.
2. Dealer repairs you PAY for are covered for 24 months and unlimited miles.
3. In this instance and presumably all others, you cannot expect a Ford repair to last a reasonable amount of time or miles (I know, I know... how do you define reasonable?) and if you are no longer under warranty, expect to go out of pocket on the repair.
4. If a similar situation happens to you, call Ford customer service directly. ( (800) 392-3673 ) Have your facts together; hang on to your paperwork and keep it somewhere you can lay hands on it if you need it.
5. Be nice. Ask questions. Paint them a word picture of what's going on. It appears they are willing to help. If not 100%, at least most of it or some of it.
Extended warranties might have been an option but who could foresee a second evaporator giving it up at less than 11,000 miles?
I hope some of you find this helpful in dealing with your own warranty issues.
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