NHTSA Complaint #11616764 — 2021 FORD ECOSPORT

Was driving vehicle and lost power. Had vehicle towed to Ford dealership. Received email stating vehicle experienced engine failure. Also received a recall attachment and told the engine and turbo buster needed replaced. Was told it would be covered under warranty. Next day received call from dealership stating there were not going to cover engine under recall and I would need to pay almost $9,000 for a new engine. The vehicle is a 2021 ford ecosport with under 10,000 miles. When I contacted ford corp, they told me varied stories. First rep. Acknowledge the recall and then said it was up to the dealership to honor it. Second time I called ford corp. the rep said that there was no fix and only a work around and that my paying for the engine replacement was a work around the dealerships had come up with. When I reached back out to the dealership, they told me they had spoken with ford and was instructed to complete more diagnostics, which would cost me out of pocket for the diagnostics approximately $1400.00. I contacted another dealership and was told it would be two month before they could even look at it, due to the number of vehicles currently at their dealership waiting for engine replacements. I contacted ford corp again and was told there was a buy back option. I have just been waiting, when I spoke with the rep in the buyback department (9/25/24) she said it would be another 5 days and she would call me again. I asked about rental vehicles, she said that was up to the dealerships or that I could use a rental company like enterprise. I let her know that to rent a vehicle until the first quarter of 2025, when ford is supposed to have a fix for the vehicle would cost me close to, if not over $18,000 in rental fees. She said if she heard of ford starting a program to reimburse rental fees she would let me know. I asked if she would document the expected rental notes in the case.