Dealer showed up at my door (2 hours away) said they need to take my MachE for recall, or they will "Deactivate It" - WTF

[SigSauer]

I'd call the police.
Nothing about your story rings true.

If they return, I would take their picture. This sounds to good to be true.

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[MrFlood]

The same thing happened to me, this is 100% the dealer covering their behind.

- Dealer Released Car to you with an active recall (Big No-No)
- Weeks later, Dealer tries to flag the car sold to ford... ford System won't allow the deal to be registered as the recall was not cleared
- As of right now, the Dealer is fully liable for the vehicle to ford and if anything happens they are on the hook.


I was able to squeeze my dealer by getting a zero-cost loaner, and winter tires at cost for the inconvenience.

The car does need to be fixed, so there is no point delaying it any more than it has to be.

 

[pbgear]

The same thing happened to me, but this is 100% the dealer covering their behind.

- Dealer Released Car to you with an active recall (Big No-No)
- Weeks later, Dealer tries to flag the car sold to ford... ford System won't allow the deal to be registered as the recall was not cleared
- As of right now, Dealer is fully liable for the vehicle to ford and if anything happens they are on the hook.

crazy thing is I bought the car over seven months ago

 

[MrFlood]

crazy thing is I bought the car over seven months ago

Look at the bright side, your warranty should only start after they are able to complete the transfer. So you got a bonus 7 months!

 

[mateo]

$40,000 per day fine is much different than a one time civil penalty of $21,000 per vehicle...

Sounds like they are being over dramatic. I'd like to know where that daily figure comes from, unless it's something different for actively, willfully, and repeatedly ignoring this notice. (In that case, I have no sympathy.) If they have any competence, surely they got a notice that said this thing wasn't done properly and if they didn't rectify it by such and such date then they would get fined $x.

In that more plausible scenario, then the dealer can promptly repeat that message to you. "Hey, we made a mistake and we need to service your car for recall xyz. Please schedule an appointment before date xyz. We can even arrange to pick up your car for you."

Only after you refuse to cooperate in the timely manner would the dealer have to threaten to disable / repossess your car. Otherwise you think nothing of it, they avoid the fine, and you thank them for alerting you of a safety recall.

 

[EELinneman]

crazy thing is I bought the car over seven months ago

Just as crazy as dealers who don't do shit. Even when their hair is on fire. What a messed up model.

 

[ARK]

$40,000 per day fine is much different than a one time civil penalty of $21,000 per vehicle...

Sounds like they are being over dramatic. I'd like to know where that daily figure comes from, unless it's something different for actively, willfully, and repeatedly ignoring this notice. (In that case, I have no sympathy.) If they have any competence, surely they got a notice that said this thing wasn't done properly and if they didn't rectify it by such and such date then they would get fined $x.

In that more plausible scenario, then the dealer can promptly repeat that message to you. "Hey, we made a mistake and we need to service your car for recall xyz. Please schedule an appointment before date xyz. We can even arrange to pick up your car for you."

Only after you refuse to cooperate in the timely manner would the dealer have to threaten to disable / repossess your car. Otherwise you think nothing of it, they avoid the fine, and you thank them for alerting you of a safety recall.

I dunno, even a one time $21,000 fine would seemingly be more than enough to make a salesman do nothing else but deal with this for the day.

 

[West1134]

Keep us posted on the outcome of all of this. Been an entertaining read. It almost pisses me off more they are "threatening" you with deactivation of your vehicle via text vs just being transparent on what needs to happen.

 

[mateo]

I dunno, even a one time $21,000 fine would seemingly be more than enough to make a salesman do nothing else but deal with this for the day.

Right, but at 40,000 per day I'm not going home to print out something to bring back the next day! I'd show up with the fanciest loaner car and a $500 gift card and a pink unicorn the second I heard about it.

 

[AKgrampy]

Just a curiosity - cash or finance? If financed I wonder what the financial institution has been doing as they must still be waiting for their title?

 

[pbgear]

Just a curiosity - cash or finance? If financed I wonder what the financial institution has been doing as they must still be waiting for their title?

financed thru pentagon federal - never heard a peep from them regarding the title

 

[alexgorod]

financed thru pentagon federal - never heard a peep from them regarding the title

It probably got lost between all these HIMARS financed for Ukraine

 

[Jimbo]

The recall was last year. If this is the dealer's first earnest attempt to contact you, that's shocking, and they absolutely deserve that fine

 

[bcaceres]

Sounds like a total scam. After you give them the keys, this is what happens next....

 

[HuntingPudel]

As has been said before, please do not let just anyone drive away with your car. Take it in yourself to ensure that it is actually going to the dealer’s service department for repair.

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