NHTSA Complaint #10161208 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

EXPLORER LIMITED. SIX MONTHS INTO OWNING THIS CAR, BOUGHT AT APPROXIMATELY. 32,000 MILES, I NOTICED THERE WAS BUBBLING ON THE HOOD OF CAR. IT WAS ON THE FRONT OF THE HOOD ON BOTH SIDES ABOVE HEAD LAMPS AS WELL AS IN THE MIDDLE (POINT OF THE OF THE HOOD). EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT KENNY ROSS IN PITTSBURGH WILL NOT WORK WITH ME IN GETTING REPAIRED. ONE OF THEIR COLLISION MEN SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER HE SAID IF IT IS UNDER WARRANTY NOT A PROBLEM. THEN THE HEAD GUY OF THE COLLISION DEPARTMENT SAID EVEN IF I HAD A WARRANTY THE HOOD WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED ONLY UNDER THE 12 MONTHS, 12,000 MILES WARRANTY (???). JUST THE BASIC RUN AROUND AND THEY INSULT YOUR INTELLIGENCE. THE PAINT IS NOW CRACKING AND PEELING OFF. I NOTICED THE BUBBLING AT ABOUT 39,000+ MILES AND JUST REPORTED IT TO FORD MAY OF THIS 2006, ALTHOUGH I DID MENTION IT TO THE GUY THAT SOLD ME THE CAR A YEAR OR SO AGO. IN ADDITION I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN FROM THIS SO CALLED DEALERSHIP THINKING I WAS GETTING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH WAS IMPLIED, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE EXTENDED SERVICE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. BUYER BEWARE BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO DISCLOSE THE DIFFERENCE. WHY WOULD I BUY AN ESP WHEN I CAN EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR JUST ABOUT THE SAME PRICE. *JB