NHTSA Complaint #10071069 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT 2 BRAND NEW FORDS FROM CHAMPION FORD IN SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA. MY BRAND NEW FORD XLT EXPLORER 2 DOOR SPORT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS REPAIRS LONGER THAN I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 09/27/2003 SINCE THEN THE HOOD HAD TO BE RE-PAINTED, BOTH SIDE BODY MOLDING HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT CAME LOOSE , BOTH BOTTOM EXTERIOR BODY DOOR TRIM HAD TO BE REPLACED, INTERIOR TRIM PIECE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW BROKE AND HAD TO BE RE-PLACED, BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM IS A VIBRATION IN THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION THAT VIBRATES THE DASH I HAVE SPENT ALREADY OVER $60.00 IN GAS BACK AND FORTH TO DEALERSHIP, ME AND MY WIFE HAVE TAKEN OFF TWO DAYS AT WORK COSTING US OVER $500.00 IN LOSS OF PAY, I HAVE ALREADY PAID THE FIRST TRUCK NOTE AND INSURANCE PAYMENT AND NOW THE TRUCK IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MORE WEEK OF REPAIRS. ON 10/17/2003 THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MY WIFE DROVE ANOTHER EXPLORER OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL AND HAD NO PROBLEMS I THEN WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MGR. THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS INHERENT TO THIS MAKE/MODEL. I THEN APPROACHED THE SALE MGR. WITH THE HOPES OF EITHER EXCHANGING OR TRADING UP TOO THE 4 DOOR MODEL TO HELP DEFRAY THE PROFIT LOSS. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY DEPRECIATED SOME $4000.00 AND THAT TO SWAP VEHICLES IT WOULD COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $75.00 AN UP A MONTH CAR NOTE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO BASICALLY TOLD ME I WAS STUCK WITH THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE LONGER THAN I HAVE HAD IT. I WAS SENT FROM EMPLOYEE TO EMPLOYEE MGR. OF THIS TO MGR. OF THAT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION OR IDEAS YOU COULD PROVIDE ME WITH THIS SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE IS TO BE MY WIFE'S TRUCK AND I WOULD LIKE HER IN A SAFE TRUCK THAT IS SAFE FOR HER TO TRAVEL IN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ALREADY REPLACED THE COSMETIC FAULTS BUT HAS STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OF DOUBTFUL OUTCOME.