My 2015 Ford F-150 has developed problems with the doors - Pags
My 2015 Ford F-150 has developed problems with the doors freezing in extreme cold conditions. In researching this I discovered this is a common problem and there have been a couple of recalls and a class action lawsuit as well as a result.
The recalls are: Customer Satisfaction Program 18N03, and 17S33. The Ford F-150 Class Action Lawsuit is Kommer v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 1:17-cv-00296, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
I brought my F-150 to Woods City Motors in Cloquet, MN, nearby my place of employment, to have the recall work done on my truck.
The service rep, Kellen, vehemently warned me that if they discovered the problem was not due to the recall they would charge me a $190 diagnostic fee. This put me off right away, but my symptoms were identical to what I read in the recall notices so I told them to go ahead and work on it anyway. They did, agreed that it was a real issue, did not charge me, and told me that if it did not work to bring it back.
In looking over the paperwork I learned that a seal and some retaining clips were installed. However in reading the Customer Satisfaction Program 18N03 and 17S33 Supplement 3 document, it shows that some shields were also supposed to be installed.
A few days later it got down to below zero and the door froze up again. So I brought it back, as was advised. Again Kellen vehemently told me, I mean he was strongly stressing to me, that I would be charged $190 if they found the problem was not due to the recall. And again this made me wonder why he was so strongly emphasizing this. But it was so obvious that the problem was due to freezing weather that I told them to go ahead anyway. I left and received a phone call shortly later from Kellen advising me, again for a third time, that there could be a $190 charge for "diagnostic work" if they determined the problem was not due to the recall. I had a somewhat contentious conversation with the Kellen which made me feel that I was being setup to pay an unreasonably high diagnostic fee when the symptoms clearly indicated the doors were freezing up due to extreme cold wether as is clearly described in the recall notices. Frustrated, I told him to forget it to which he instantly agreed to... I mean he agreed so fast I wondered if his intent was to persuade me not have the work done.
It seemed to me that they don't want to do recall work, so Kellen tried to scare me away, successfully, with an outrageous diagnostic fee. It was quite clear that he didn't care that I was burdened with a defective vehicle that had a valid recall nor show any concern that this problem ought to have been fixed. I didn't buy my F-150 there, perhaps that was the issue, I dunno, but he certainly didn't give me any motivation to come back in the future for service or to purchase a new vehicle for that matter.
I was left feeling apprehensive about having work done there since they were so intent in trying to get me to agree to pay a diagnostic fee for an obvious recall situation that they said was only up to them to determine if the problem was a recall or not. Something felt off with the interactions that he made me feel uneasy and suspicious, so I backed out. Now I'm stuck with frozen doors to deal with even though there is a valid recall for it that I'm entitled to have fixed.
I'll be contacting Ford Customer Relations and reporting this poor and questionable service encounter.
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