Dealerships Not Working on EV’s They Didn’t Sell?

[Acottrell]

Curious how many folks are running into what I just did and the “why” behind it.

I am away from home for work for an extended period of time and my wife has been driving my truck. Got the powertrain malfunction errors a couple times but she was able to reset it, until she couldn’t. So I got an email from Ford’s recall team and my wife confirming the truck wouldn’t go into drive or reverse.

All of this led to calling Ford’s recall team who helped schedule service to fix it all. When they connected me with the local dealership on a conference call, the local place stated that as of 2024 they will not work on any EV’s they didn’t sell themselves. It ended up the nearest dealership that would over an hour away.

Is anyone else getting this experience? Any idea the “why” behind it?

Though my wife has liked the truck, she did mention that maybe we should look at something else if we have to go an hour to somewhere else for any sort of issue.

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[tls]

Doesn't this violate the dealership's franchise agreement with @Ford Motor Company ?

 

[Henry Ford]

Won't work on them as in battery replacements and other major issues or won't work on them at all?

My thoughts are you probably don't want to work with this dealer if they don't want to work with you. At the same time, that's pretty crappy for them to turn you away. Part of the benefit of buying a Ford over say a Rivian is there are dealerships everywhere.

 

[hturnerfamily]

Dealers are independent and can choose what path they want to take... also, they may just not be comfortable with the EV environment, whether Ford chooses to produce them, or not... also, they must now have 'specialized' techs to do these repairs, diagnose these conditions, etc. Ford's replacement parts also have not been exactly timely, with dealers having to deal with sour customers since their vehicle sits on the dealer's lot for weeks, if not sometimes months. I kinda don't blame them.
Fortunately, some dealers EMBRACE the EV environment, and really, they ARE who you want to go to, whether an 'hour away' or not. In the end, the 'hour away' will not really matter, when you look back.
Many of us would be happy to 'only' be an hour away from our 'local' dealer.

 

[RickLightning]

I have multiple local dealers. Mine wouldn't service EVs they didn't sell, and they are fully onboard as an EV dealer. Their reasoning is one tech, long wait. So I switched dealers. Have mobile service coming today to replace BMS.

Ford knows, they are not happy, but powerless to force the issue. I no longer refer people to that dealership.

 

[ericpullen]

I wonder how much of this is due to dealers that have opted out of being an "Model E" EV dealer. My dealership has opted out, and recently told me they will continue to support my vehicles, but they are not working on any ones they didn't sell.

 

[Acottrell]

As it was a three way call with the recall department and the local dealership, I didn’t inquire as to the details.

I’m guessing if I went for a tire rotation, they would be happy to take my money but they will not do much beyond that.

While it’s definitely not a show-stopper to drive an hour to a dealer that will work on it, just very irritating that my local dealership won’t service the product which they sell. Unless you buy it from them.

Part of selling the wife on buying it was that there was the local dealership ten minutes away if anything happened.

 

[sfringer]

As it was a three way call with the recall department and the local dealership, I didn’t inquire as to the details.

I’m guessing if I went for a tire rotation, they would be happy to take my money but they will not do much beyond that.

While it’s definitely not a show-stopper to drive an hour to a dealer that will work on it, just very irritating that my local dealership won’t service the product which they sell. Unless you buy it from them.

Part of selling the wife on buying it was that there was the local dealership ten minutes away if anything happened.

Hey Andy, in what part of North Carolina are you? I'm in southern Wake county and hoping I'm not going to see this situation arise. I'm currently getting supported by my local dealer which I did not buy my Lightning from. There are a few other choices should this happen (and the dealer I bought from is only about 40 minutes away).

 

[Bandit216]

A lot of dealers are having difficulty finding and keeping good mechanics, esoecially EV trained mechanics. If you are short-staffed, and over-booked, who will you turn away first?

 

[Acottrell]

Hey Andy, in what part of North Carolina are you? I'm in southern Wake county and hoping I'm not going to see this situation arise. I'm currently getting supported by my local dealer which I did not buy my Lightning from. There are a few other choices should this happen (and the dealer I bought from is only about 40 minutes away).

Im in southern pines. Truck ended up at crossroads ford in Apex. The Crossroads Ford in Southern Pines is the dealership which said it wouldn’t work on my truck.

 

[sfringer]

Im in southern pines. Truck ended up at crossroads ford in Apex. The Crossroads Ford in Southern Pines is the dealership which said it wouldn’t work on my truck.

Crossroads Apex would be my next closest option should Crossroads Fuquay turn me away. Will be interested to hear your experience with Apex.

 

[jefrank]

Crossroads Apex would be my next closest option should Crossroads Fuquay turn me away. Will be interested to hear your experience with Apex.

Wait, so dealerships under the same ownership are pulling this??? I'm presuming the Crossroads name is a corporate thing.

 

[Acottrell]

Yes, this store in Apex, NC is their main/parent store and they have several through out the area here in NC.

I do not know the ownership relationship between my local Crossroads dealership and their main dealership.

 

[Heliian]

the local place stated that as of 2024 they will not work on any EV’s they didn’t sell themselves

Are they ev certified? I'm guessing not.

So glad I don't have to put up with ignorant prima Donna dealerships like that.

If I had that experience I would be sure to let everyone know not to shop there or at their affiliates.

 

[JRT]

I bought my Lightning from a smaller dealership 45min away and bypassing my local dealership after the hell they put me through with my Mach-E, that I bought through them! New dealership service Manger has been with them for over 10 years, my local has had 5-6 service managers in the past 5 years...

Ask your dealership how long the service manager has been there and the owners involvement. My new dealership owner does a lot for small local community and values his name and good reputation.

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