Recall / Stop Sale / Delivery Hold - Mach-E produced from Oct 5 - Nov 18 [Rear Seat Belt Anchor Repair]

[ElectrifyCLT]

I do not understand how my car with a build week of Oct 4 is still on chip hold, when build weeks after are getting deliveries. Maybe it’s due to this new issue and they just didn’t want to disclose? I am really frustrated by the lack of transparency from Ford about where things are and how they are prioritizing vehicles. My dealer just tells me the same thing every time i follow up. They are just as clueless.

1. Sorry for your misfortune.
2. Who is telling you it’s chip hold? Dealer or Ford direct?
3. There are a number of reasons why deliveries fall out of sync with build dates. One could be shipping scheduling to different parts of the country. Another could simply be the options that you selected relative to other builds that were scheduled for your build week and other build weeks around it.

Regardless, it doesn’t make your situation any better.

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[oadesign]

What did Ford give certain people earlier this year when there was a delay with their orders? Free charging? Any other precedents that might apply to this situation, that folks can think of?

They gave them an additional 250kw charging, but they were taking delivery on a 2021 model during 2021.

That won’t be the case for mine, which has an ETA of 1/3-1/9/22. In addition to taking delivery in the following year, I’m also going to be delayed by a year from being able to claim the tax credit.

We’re all hearing “it was worth the wait” from those who have taken delivery, but at a certain point, it’s incumbent upon Ford to remove as many delays as possible.

Having read that dealers cannot even order the seat belt anchors for the recall yet angers me. They know exactly which dealers need them, and how many they need. These parts should be either overnighted or shipped via 2-day.

Instead they build in a 2+ week delay. They are most certainly taking advantage of us and the demand right now, and it’s not sitting well with customers like me. Rant over!

 

[Roger tobin]

So, my car made it to my dealer on the first day of the promised delivery range (12/21 - 12-27), and I got the email from ford to finalize the purchase late that day. The dealer asked when I wanted to come in and finalize the purchase, and then called me back a few hours later saying that it was part of the seat belt recall, and I could not take delivery, but I could still pay for it so that I could get the tax benefit in 2021.

However, the reality was a bit more complex -- We went to the dealer today and saw the car and confirmed it was mine. The salesguy said I could purchase it today, but they couldn't release it to me until the recall was performed. They did tell me that they were obliged to hold the car for me until I said I didn't want it, so they would not sell it out from under me. We started asking the tough questions, and the salesguy went and got his manager -- If I traded in my old car as part of the purchase, what was I supposed to do -- would they give me a loaner? the answer was no, but they would "loan" my trade-in back to me in the interim. If I was doing financing, would I have to pay for the time before I got the car -- the answer was yes, and they couldn't do anything about that.

The salesguy offered to go get the car off the remote lot and drive it up to the showroom for us to look at, and the manager nearly jumped down his throat saying: "no one is allowed to drive the car until the recall service is performed!"

Then it came out that if I purchased it without taking delivery, they couldn't really conclude the purchase and transfer title to me. Ford won't allow them to recognize the purchase as finalized, and I wouldn't be able to apply for new plates, etc. So, I think they (and other dealers in the same position) are just trying to book some revenue, and are providing the flimsiest of justification for the tax credit, which I suspect would not hold up if the IRS started poking around. . .

We told them that we weren't interested in closing the deal until we could take delivery.

So now we wait.

 

[TTT]

I suppose that for those willing to try to complete the purchase now and wait for actual delivery, it will be important to have a discussion with the Dealer about who is insuring the vehicle while they hold it on their lot. I'd hate to see a vehicle get damaged, but it's far worse if nobody was actually insuring it at the time.

At the same time, I would get something in writing from the dealer if you don't complete the sale guaranteeing you that they will hold it for one week after they notify you it is ready, and documenting how you will be contacted. Some buyers have lost their cars because they left it at the dealer too long without completing the pruchase. Some dealers would love to do it - if they have the choice of you buying it for MSRP under x plan for example vs Joe Desperate Schmo that will pay a $10k ADM, who do you think they want to sell it to?

Caveat Emptor.

 

[Griff]

Is there anyway to ask the dealer to check to see if my car is actually affected?

 

[generaltso]

Is there anyway to ask the dealer to check to see if my car is actually affected?

Yes. Just ask your dealer if your car is affected.

 

[Jbkimmel]

So, my car made it to my dealer on the first day of the promised delivery range (12/21 - 12-27), and I got the email from ford to finalize the purchase late that day. The dealer asked when I wanted to come in and finalize the purchase, and then called me back a few hours later saying that it was part of the seat belt recall, and I could not take delivery, but I could still pay for it so that I could get the tax benefit in 2021.

However, the reality was a bit more complex -- We went to the dealer today and saw the car and confirmed it was mine. The salesguy said I could purchase it today, but they couldn't release it to me until the recall was performed. They did tell me that they were obliged to hold the car for me until I said I didn't want it, so they would not sell it out from under me. We started asking the tough questions, and the salesguy went and got his manager -- If I traded in my old car as part of the purchase, what was I supposed to do -- would they give me a loaner? the answer was no, but they would "loan" my trade-in back to me in the interim. If I was doing financing, would I have to pay for the time before I got the car -- the answer was yes, and they couldn't do anything about that.

The salesguy offered to go get the car off the remote lot and drive it up to the showroom for us to look at, and the manager nearly jumped down his throat saying: "no one is allowed to drive the car until the recall service is performed!"

Then it came out that if I purchased it without taking delivery, they couldn't really conclude the purchase and transfer title to me. Ford won't allow them to recognize the purchase as finalized, and I wouldn't be able to apply for new plates, etc. So, I think they (and other dealers in the same position) are just trying to book some revenue, and are providing the flimsiest of justification for the tax credit, which I suspect would not hold up if the IRS started poking around. . .

We told them that we weren't interested in closing the deal until we could take delivery.

So now we wait.

Thank you for the excellent write-up, and for asking all of the questions that I would have - sigh. I left my dealer rep a vm yesterday asking that they not use my car for test drives - hopefully they’ll take the same “no drive” position as yours.

 

[Jbkimmel]

FYI - There’s a parallel discussion of this issue happening over at the 10/18 build week gang, including of all of the ways this recall will harm those of us now stuck in stop-sale purgatory. I hope *someone* at FMC is realizing the same. This isn’t some minor inconvenience, it’s costing us real money and value.

I know Ford is offering $1k discounts with Ford Option, and $2.5k in certain “EV-friendly” markets. If they can do this just to get people to use their new financing program, they can offer all of us stop-sales a significantly larger discount from MSRP for the significant losses we're taking on our cursed 2021 MMEs.

Besides calling FMC customer service, ideas on how else to start pushing on corporate? Thanks.

 

[Thad]

Sorry if this has already been answered but are either of these good tools for knowing if your specific vehicle will be in the recall group?

https://www.ford.com/support/recalls/
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

 

[oadesign]

So, my car made it to my dealer on the first day of the promised delivery range (12/21 - 12-27), and I got the email from ford to finalize the purchase late that day. The dealer asked when I wanted to come in and finalize the purchase, and then called me back a few hours later saying that it was part of the seat belt recall, and I could not take delivery, but I could still pay for it so that I could get the tax benefit in 2021.

However, the reality was a bit more complex -- We went to the dealer today and saw the car and confirmed it was mine. The salesguy said I could purchase it today, but they couldn't release it to me until the recall was performed. They did tell me that they were obliged to hold the car for me until I said I didn't want it, so they would not sell it out from under me. We started asking the tough questions, and the salesguy went and got his manager -- If I traded in my old car as part of the purchase, what was I supposed to do -- would they give me a loaner? the answer was no, but they would "loan" my trade-in back to me in the interim. If I was doing financing, would I have to pay for the time before I got the car -- the answer was yes, and they couldn't do anything about that.

The salesguy offered to go get the car off the remote lot and drive it up to the showroom for us to look at, and the manager nearly jumped down his throat saying: "no one is allowed to drive the car until the recall service is performed!"

Then it came out that if I purchased it without taking delivery, they couldn't really conclude the purchase and transfer title to me. Ford won't allow them to recognize the purchase as finalized, and I wouldn't be able to apply for new plates, etc. So, I think they (and other dealers in the same position) are just trying to book some revenue, and are providing the flimsiest of justification for the tax credit, which I suspect would not hold up if the IRS started poking around. . .

We told them that we weren't interested in closing the deal until we could take delivery.

So now we wait.

Well, you now at least know that your car exists...mine is still 'imaginary' to me!

 

[generaltso]

Sorry if this has already been answered but are either of these good tools for knowing if your specific vehicle will be in the recall group?

https://www.ford.com/support/recalls/
https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

Those are good for telling you if your car has any active recalls. But they won’t tell you if your car will qualify for a recall that is just in the “advance notice” stage.

 

[Jbkimmel]

FYI - I just DM’d @Ford on Twitter, asking how they are going to make this right for all 1,600 of us stop-sale folks. And am about to start tweeting at every exec I can find. I spent an hour on the phone with various customer service people and they knew nothing about this issue.

The more of us who speak up, the better. Thanks.

 

[generaltso]

FYI - I just DM’d @Ford on Twitter, asking how they are going to make this right for all 1,600 of us stop-sale folks. And am about to start tweeting at every exec I can find. I spent an hour on the phone with various customer service people and they knew nothing about this issue.

The more of us who speak up, the better. Thanks.

I would guess that they’ll make it right the same way all manufacturers do for recalls. They’ll fix the problem for free.

 

[Jbkimmel]

I would guess that they’ll make it right the same way all manufacturers do for recalls. They’ll fix the problem for free.

True - but I think we actually have a case when we can’t buy a car that’s at the dealer, and when we’re not getting the 2021 tax credit, and there’s depreciation and other loss of value. Plus nothing against our early 2022 friends, but it chafes me to know that they’ll get their enhanced MMEs before we get our patched-up 2021s!

 

[generaltso]

True - but I think we actually have a case when we can’t buy a car that’s at the dealer, and when we’re not getting the 2021 tax credit, and there’s depreciation and other loss of value. Plus nothing against our early 2022 friends, but it chafes me to know that they’ll get their enhanced MMEs before we get our patched-up 2021s!

Good luck with your case.

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