Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - Johnny Wutang Clan

Hello everyone. I am wondering if anyone can provide any sound advice for the situation I find myself in and which is causing me no end of stress! I bought a second hand vehicle (2017 plate) from a dealer and took out their offer of a two year extended warranty for peace of mind. I took finance of £5k and paid the balance of £15k myself. A few months after ownership it became apparent that there was an issue with the coolant mysteriously ‘disappearing’. I first noticed it 4 months after taking ownership, didn’t report it to the garage I purchased from but had the system re-pressurised/filled and all seemed well for a while. Then it happened again 7 months in and I then knew it was a recurring problem that garage needed to address under the warranty. I had to get recovered back to my house and the vehicle couldn’t be driven as there was no sign of coolant in the bottle. I contacted them and asked them to investigate and fix under the warranty. They said the earliest they could look at it was 6 weeks (!!) so I had to just wait that time. After further weeks of chasing, they said it would need to go to a separate Ford specialist garage for further test as they were scratching their heads. This entailed a further wait of weeks to get a ‘slot’ with Ford. Anyway to cut a long story short, since breakdown I’ve now been waiting 4 long months and the problem hasn’t been identified let alone fixed. I have hit a brick wall , they won’t return my calls or emails and they are 2.5 hours away from me so not easy for me to visit. I am virtually calling every other day and getting ignored. It’s really getting me down. I have my own business and need the vehicle for work and on top of that they say they have no courtesy vehicles they can give me full stop. What do I do? They are just taking a lend of me and I feel powerless. How can they get away with this ‘service’ week after week after week? Is there a code of conduct ‘reasonable period of time’ in which a vehicle must be fixed. How can I shake them into action? I need my vehicle back yesterday. Can anyone help, please! Thank you.

Edited by _ORB_ on 09/08/2023 at 06:15

Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - elekie&a/c doctor

I suspect your coolant loss is the egr cooler . They leak internally so there’s no visible loss . Fairly standard fault on the ranger models . However, looks like you’re out of the 6 month dealer warranty and are now reliant on the aftermarket product. Which is unlikely to be worth the paper it’s written on . You may have to go down the route of getting it repaired yourself , and try and claim the money back later . Certainly do not drive it like this . Extended periods of running with coolant loss will wreck the engine .

Edited by _ORB_ on 09/08/2023 at 06:15

Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - focussed
I suspect your coolant loss is the egr cooler . They leak internally so there’s no visible loss . Fairly standard fault on the ranger models . However, looks like you’re out of the 6 month dealer warranty and are now reliant on the aftermarket product. Which is unlikely to be worth the paper it’s written on . You may have to go down the route of getting it repaired yourself , and try and claim the money back later . Certainly do not drive it like this . Extended periods of running with coolant loss will wreck the engine .

Yeah - it's all over you tube!

Edited by _ORB_ on 09/08/2023 at 06:16

Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - _

Edited to remove Names. No naming and shaming.

Edited by _ORB_ on 09/08/2023 at 06:19

Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - Johnny Wutang Clan

Thanks for the reply. Yes more than likely will be the EGR and I stopped driving it immediately it became a recurring issue. I bought a two year warranty to cover this sort of thing but I am just being ignored. Not sure what the next best step is.

Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - elekie&a/c doctor
As you’re not getting anywhere with the warranty, I’d be asking for a refund, as it’s not fit for purpose.
Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - Brit_in_Germany

Getting a refund may not be easy though. As a sale to a tradesman the Customer Relations Act may not be applicable, and the value exceeds the small claims limit if they simply refuse. Maybe the best solution to be to get it mended elsewhere then seek to get the money back for the repair via the small claims court.

Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - Brit_in_Germany

Sorry, Consumer Rights Act, the point being that a tradesman is not or may not be a "consumer"

Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - Johnny Wutang Clan
Cheers. I might have to end up getting others to repair and then reclaim but my local mechanic says the warranty people can be a nightmare to deal with quibbling over the bill so dont want to go down that road ideally, but maybe eventually i’ll have to. Plus there’s the initial cost to me.

Anyway I purchased from this dealer with a 2 year warranty so dont understand how they can muck me about like this with no timescale end in sight. Should I put in an official complaint? Is there a regulatory body to go to? I see this dealer is a RMI member but do RMI ‘lean’ towards their members more than the customer?
Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - Andrew-T
As you’re not getting anywhere with the warranty, I’d be asking for a refund, as it’s not fit for purpose.

We are past 6 months, Doc ....

Ford Ranger - Getting Messed around by Dealer - elekie&a/c doctor
Just to clarify, refund on the extended warranty.