NHTSA Complaint #10393220 — 2007 FORD EXPLORER

CAR WAS PARKED AND UPON RETURNING TO VECHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING, COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. AFTER ABOUT 3 ATTEMPTS, IT WORKED. CALLED DEALER ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY SINCE THIS WAS A SAT. NITE. SCHEDULED DIAGNOSTICS FOR 3/17/11. KEPT HAVING THIS ISSUE INTERMITTENTLY (MORE OFTEN THEN NOT) UNTIL DROP OFF. VEHICLE AROUND 8:00 A.M. WAS NOTIFIED AROUND 2 P.M. THAT ALL DIAGNOSTICS POINT TO THE SHIFTING LEVER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS REPAIR ($435) WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS PURCHASED AT THE TIME OF SALE. I WAS BASICALLY TOLD IT WAS "BUMPER TO BUMPER" COVERAGE. LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER AS I WAS LEAVING FOR A BUS. TRIP ON 3/19/11. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE (CALLED AT LEAST THREE TIMES BETWEEN THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY). FINALLY REACHED THE REP THAT MY ISSUE HAD BEEN ESCALATED TO ON 3/22/11. TOLD HIM THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR A "GOODWILL" REPAIR ON BEHALF OF FORD MOTOR CO. I FELT THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, OTHERWISE, WHY WOULD PEOPLE BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IF THEY COULDN'T COUNT ON IT COVERING ANYTHING? FINAL RESOLUTION WAS THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE THE REPAIR, I WOULD PAY THE $50 DEDUCTIBLE THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY HAD THE WARRANTY COVERED THE SERVICE. I WAS BASICALLY TOLD "DON'T EXPECT THAT THE NEXT TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS THAT YOU CAN CALL FORD AND THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF IT." THE BOTTOM LINE IS I AM SATISFIED THAT IT IS BEING REPAIRED FOR THE $50 DEDUCT. HOWEVER, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT I NEEDED TO "JUMP THROUGH HOOPS" TO GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE WORKED WITH FORD ON MY BEHALF TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. ABOUT 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS THERE WERE FRONT END AND WHEEL ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE.