Covid19 Issues with Engine Replacement

[stang980]

I've never had to trek across the cold and barren landscape of a warranty claim. I hope someone who is experienced in dealing with Ford may have some knowledge and input for me.

Quick Background:

I own a 2019 Mustang GT. It has 14k miles on it. I bought it when it had 700 miles on it. I did the first oil change, at dealership, because it was free. I did this around 1800 miles. They only put 8 qts in it and I didn't realize it until a few hours of driving later. I immediately added 2 qts at home. The engine was making a tapping noise in the lower engine. My engine guy diagnosed it as a possible valve spring problem. I took it back to Ford and they kept it a few days and said it was a "normal Coyote sound"..this seems to be the normal thing around here. Of course, the 2k rattle followed and the infamous typewriter tick. I band-aided the tick with Ceretec and it eliminated the "sound", after my second dealership visit yielded the same "normal sound" diagnosis. Finally I did a third visit to really push the issue with the valve train tapping. The service manager kept it a few days and said a Ford rep visited, listened, and said NO to replacement. The rep said it was normal. The service manager, very candidly, said to just blow the engine and they would have no choice to replace it then.

Challenge accepted

Present Situation

Engine gave out a few weeks ago, traveling at normal speed, in sixth gear. A fellow mustang driver, behind me, saw the smoke and alerted me by honking. I was smoking bad. Pulled over immediately and all my oil had emptied through my exhaust. Towed to my dealership and they confirmed it was time for a new engine. I could relax and know i'd be getting a brand new engine with all the PCM updates, etc. Great!...sucks but at least I'd be rid of that awful tapping sound.

I called the service manager today to get an update as it was supposed to be done last week and they told me, due to COVID19, the Engine manufacturing plant was closed. It has been closed for awhile. There are not any Coyote engines available in the entire country. He did NOT have an ETA. When I asked if it could be months or longer, he said yes it could be. So now we're "possibly" looking at the dealership having my car through the entire summer and maybe into the fall a bit. To me, this is unacceptable. Yes they provided me with a 2020 Ford Escape loaner. But that's not a mustang...

Does anyone with experience, dealing with Ford, think it's possible to get a buyback OR some kind of compensation for losing my car for up to half a year? Yes I'm still paying on it and so forth. Another concern of mine is it has a custom ceremic coating and such...I'm not thrilled with it sitting on a lot, uncared for, for half a year...It's kept in a garage at my house and always kept clean.

Looking for ideas.

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[GT Pony]

Can't hurt to try for a buy back from Ford. Cobra Jet has a thread in this forum with all the ins and outs of going through the process.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...or-are-filing-lemon-law-for-their-s550.59015/

 

[ice445]

I don't think Ford will allow a buyback because they haven't had a chance to repair it yet due to "unforseen circumstances". Your only option is convincing the dealership to yank an engine out of a new GT on their lot. Ultimately its not a lie, nothing is available right now. Shitty timing but that's life sometimes.

 

[damships]

So I have a 2018 Mustang GT that is going through the Buy-Back process right now. I forgot the exact date it went in, but it was early March. I was getting a knocking noise at specific RPMs. It ended up being in the shop for over 45 days (timing chain replaced, sprockets, intake manifold gasket, solenoids). They did say some of the parts were delayed due to COVID-19. At Day 31, I still ended up calling Ford to request a buy-back. They approved it a week and a half later. You really want to look at your state's lemon laws, because that's what they will do when they review the case. My state lemon law says:

1. The same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer, its agent or authorized dealer but the nonconformity continues to exist, or

2. The motor vehicle is out of service for repairs for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days.

The 30 day period is extended by any period of time in which the necessary repairs cannot be made for reasons that are beyond the control of the manufacturer, its agent or authorized dealer. The time the express warranty is in effect and the one year period are extended by any period of time during which repair services are not reasonably available to the buyer because of war, invasion, strike, fire, flood, or other natural disaster

The bold part is the part that might get you (if your state's verbage is the same). But honestly, I would wait out the 30 days and then immediately start requesting the Buy-Back process. Considering the damn engine blew out and considering they may not have engines for a minute, they may just approve it. You may also want to ask if they will reimburse your payments while the vehicle is out of commission. I had requested my one month payment get reimbursed and I totally forgot about it until now because I've been so involved in the Buy-Back process. And now that I'm in that process I don't want to press my luck any further lol. So my advice, read your state's lemon laws (most have a 30 day rule), if that applies for you wait it out and call and request the Buy-Back.

 

[Cobra Jet]

So I have a 2018 Mustang GT that is going through the Buy-Back process right now. I forgot the exact date it went in, but it was early March. I was getting a knocking noise at specific RPMs. It ended up being in the shop for over 45 days (timing chain replaced, sprockets, intake manifold gasket, solenoids). They did say some of the parts were delayed due to COVID-19. At Day 31, I still ended up calling Ford to request a buy-back. They approved it a week and a half later. You really want to look at your state's lemon laws, because that's what they will do when they review the case. My state lemon law says:

1. The same nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer, its agent or authorized dealer but the nonconformity continues to exist, or

2. The motor vehicle is out of service for repairs for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days.

The 30 day period is extended by any period of time in which the necessary repairs cannot be made for reasons that are beyond the control of the manufacturer, its agent or authorized dealer. The time the express warranty is in effect and the one year period are extended by any period of time during which repair services are not reasonably available to the buyer because of war, invasion, strike, fire, flood, or other natural disaster

The bold part is the part that might get you (if your state's verbage is the same). But honestly, I would wait out the 30 days and then immediately start requesting the Buy-Back process. Considering the damn engine blew out and considering they may not have engines for a minute, they may just approve it. You may also want to ask if they will reimburse your payments while the vehicle is out of commission. I had requested my one month payment get reimbursed and I totally forgot about it until now because I've been so involved in the Buy-Back process. And now that I'm in that process I don't want to press my luck any further lol. So my advice, read your state's lemon laws (most have a 30 day rule), if that applies for you wait it out and call and request the Buy-Back.

Excellent advice!

Also to note along the lines of down time:

Each State has different Lemon Laws and written polices. You must review your State Lemon Laws and understand what is offered to you as a Consumer. Make sure you are viewing your actual .gov State website and not any third party website. The State DMV or State Attorney General .gov site will have all of the most up to date information.

The 30-day “rule” can be an instant qualification even if the Warranty repair is incomplete and this varies by State:
1) 30 consecutive days at Service Center inop.
2) 30 calendar days within the year. So this means the vehicle has been in/out of the Service Center 30-days within a year either for the same Warranty Repair OR various Warranty Repairs resulting in a concern that is still not fixed/resolved.

As M6G Member damships has noted, it’s extremely important to know your State Lemon Law; this is what Ford and the BBB Autoline adhere to - there isn’t any in-between when it comes to the Lemon Laws and Buy Backs (complete refund or vehicle replacement).

There is also a huge thread on here regarding Lemon Laws with a ton of Buy Back info too. I suggest you take a look at that one too.

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