NHTSA Complaint #753299 — 1996 FORD F-150

I CONTACTED SUTTON FORD AND QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THEY WOULD NOT HELP. I THEN CONTACTED [XXX] AT FORD IN DEARBORN, MICHAGAN. HER PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] ASK FOR THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND THEN FOR [XXX]. SHE MADE ME BRING THE TRUCK IN SO A FORD MECHANIC COULD DO THE INSPECTION. SUTTON CHARGED ME 29.95 FOR LOOKING AT THE OIL PAN AND AGREEING THAT THE PAN HAD RUSTED THROUGH. I WAS TOLD OUT IN THE SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A 96 TRUCK. [XXX] AT FORD THEN INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IS NOT FORDS RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD AN OIL PAN RUST THROUGH, EVER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 70-75,000 MILES ON IT. I ASKED WHAT I SHOULD PUT ON THE OIL PAN ON MY $30,000.00 WINDSTAR TO MAKE SURE THAT OIL PAN DOES NOT RUST THROUGH, SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHE REFUSED TO ANSWER. MY NEIGHBOR JUST HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS TRUCK. THE REPAIR AT FORD IS 625.00. I HAVE CALLED AROUND AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. ONE MAN WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE AT THE EXECTIVE OFFICE TOLD ME HE HAS DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM MANY TIMES. AN OIL PAN SHOULD NOT RUST OUT LIKE THIS. I JUST SOLD A 90 TEMPO WITH 175,000 MILES ON IT AND THE OIL PAN IS JUST FINE. FORD IS PULLING A FAST ONE ON A LOT OF PEOPLE. I TOLD [XXX] THAT I WOULD BE WRITING TO HER BOSS. SHE ADVISED ME THAT SHE WOULD INTERCEPT THE LETTER AND HER BOSS WOULD NOT SEE IT. HER WORD IS FINAL. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR