Storx
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As many of you know, I recently purchased a used 2022 Lariat ER truck after negotiating the price from $42,000 to $36,500 through several email exchanges. I thought I had secured an incredible deal, but my confidence is waning.
Three days after I bought the truck, the rear passenger window rolled down and wouldn’t roll back up. While trying to close it before it rained, I removed the door’s interior panel using the toolkit I keep in all my vehicles. I quickly realized the window motor was stuck, possibly shorted, in the down position. The motor was very warm and humming, so I unplugged it. I noticed the system ran on just two wires, so I reversed the voltage to manually roll up the window and left it unplugged, as reconnecting it caused the window to go back down immediately.
I called the dealership where I purchased the truck. After some discussion, they agreed to ship me a replacement switch for the driver’s door to fix the issue, noting it’s a common problem. Relieved, I thought this was just a fluke.
Two days later, it rained for the first time since I bought the truck, and I discovered the ceiling was leaking while I was driving. I put back the fabric cover and found the moonroof leaking like a faucet. Water was pooling in the metal channel, splashing or dripping from the ceiling whenever I hit a bump or turned. By the time I arrived at work, my left side was wet, and I noticed the truck’s floor was soaked, like stepping on a wet rug with water oozing out of the carpet.
Concerned about the water damage, I left the truck running while parked at work and locked it, letting the HVAC system dry out the interior. I had read online to check the cable track for water, as clogged drains can cause flooding in the tracks. I removed one and found signs of mold inside, indicating this was not a new issue but one that had persisted for some time.
I contacted the dealership again and informed them of the leak. They told me to bring the truck in, as it was under warranty, but I would owe a diagnostic fee. I asked if I could take it to my local Ford dealership for repairs, but they informed me the warranty was only valid at their dealership, which is several hours away. After some back-and-forth, they agreed to waive the diagnostic fee this time since I had just purchased the truck.
On Friday, I drove several hours to the dealership and dropped off the vehicle. I’m now concerned after speaking with the service department. Apparently, the warranty only covers 50% of labor and parts, and not everything is included, according to the fine print. More troubling, the service advisor asked, “Isn’t that the truck we took back in a buyback?” I said no, as the Carfax reported a clean title, and during negotiations, the dealership repeatedly assured me the vehicle was clean.
I hope the dealership treats me fairly and covers the repairs, as this issue clearly predated my purchase. It’s been eating at me. I should have noticed the signs—the truck smelled freshly shampooed when I bought it, and the strong fragrance masked any odors. It was also parked under a building, so there was no way for water to leak while it was on the lot. I’m questioning whether the dealership misrepresented the vehicle’s condition.
I’m feeling a bit bummed. I was so excited about the truck—it drove beautifully, had minimal signs of wear on the body with no visible scratches, and the interior looked pristine. I thought I had walked away with a great deal. If the dealership gives me any trouble, I plan to contact Ford directly in hopes of being treated fairly.
Update: 6/4/25
I just got home from a multiple-hour drive back from the dealership. It was raining on the way home, and I didn't notice wet carpets or water dripping from the sunroof like before, so the issue seems to be repaired. They also replaced the master door switch to fix the rear passenger window issue. I'm going to keep an eye on the carpets and check daily for a while, since we're expecting a lot of rain this week. The interior has a slight mildew-like smell, but I'm hopeful this will dissipate as the truck fully dries out. I have a brand-new charcoal cabin filter waiting to be installed, which might help remove the smell. When I arrived to pick up the truck, the service advisor simply asked for the keys to the loaner and handed me the receipt with $0 owed, so I'm very grateful for how they took care of me. While I was there, I asked the sales advisor in person about the possible "buyback" status, and he said he checked with his manager, who confirmed it was not a buyback truck. Hopefully, the service advisor was just mistaken.
Three days after I bought the truck, the rear passenger window rolled down and wouldn’t roll back up. While trying to close it before it rained, I removed the door’s interior panel using the toolkit I keep in all my vehicles. I quickly realized the window motor was stuck, possibly shorted, in the down position. The motor was very warm and humming, so I unplugged it. I noticed the system ran on just two wires, so I reversed the voltage to manually roll up the window and left it unplugged, as reconnecting it caused the window to go back down immediately.
I called the dealership where I purchased the truck. After some discussion, they agreed to ship me a replacement switch for the driver’s door to fix the issue, noting it’s a common problem. Relieved, I thought this was just a fluke.
Two days later, it rained for the first time since I bought the truck, and I discovered the ceiling was leaking while I was driving. I put back the fabric cover and found the moonroof leaking like a faucet. Water was pooling in the metal channel, splashing or dripping from the ceiling whenever I hit a bump or turned. By the time I arrived at work, my left side was wet, and I noticed the truck’s floor was soaked, like stepping on a wet rug with water oozing out of the carpet.
Concerned about the water damage, I left the truck running while parked at work and locked it, letting the HVAC system dry out the interior. I had read online to check the cable track for water, as clogged drains can cause flooding in the tracks. I removed one and found signs of mold inside, indicating this was not a new issue but one that had persisted for some time.
I contacted the dealership again and informed them of the leak. They told me to bring the truck in, as it was under warranty, but I would owe a diagnostic fee. I asked if I could take it to my local Ford dealership for repairs, but they informed me the warranty was only valid at their dealership, which is several hours away. After some back-and-forth, they agreed to waive the diagnostic fee this time since I had just purchased the truck.
On Friday, I drove several hours to the dealership and dropped off the vehicle. I’m now concerned after speaking with the service department. Apparently, the warranty only covers 50% of labor and parts, and not everything is included, according to the fine print. More troubling, the service advisor asked, “Isn’t that the truck we took back in a buyback?” I said no, as the Carfax reported a clean title, and during negotiations, the dealership repeatedly assured me the vehicle was clean.
I hope the dealership treats me fairly and covers the repairs, as this issue clearly predated my purchase. It’s been eating at me. I should have noticed the signs—the truck smelled freshly shampooed when I bought it, and the strong fragrance masked any odors. It was also parked under a building, so there was no way for water to leak while it was on the lot. I’m questioning whether the dealership misrepresented the vehicle’s condition.
I’m feeling a bit bummed. I was so excited about the truck—it drove beautifully, had minimal signs of wear on the body with no visible scratches, and the interior looked pristine. I thought I had walked away with a great deal. If the dealership gives me any trouble, I plan to contact Ford directly in hopes of being treated fairly.
Update: 6/4/25
I just got home from a multiple-hour drive back from the dealership. It was raining on the way home, and I didn't notice wet carpets or water dripping from the sunroof like before, so the issue seems to be repaired. They also replaced the master door switch to fix the rear passenger window issue. I'm going to keep an eye on the carpets and check daily for a while, since we're expecting a lot of rain this week. The interior has a slight mildew-like smell, but I'm hopeful this will dissipate as the truck fully dries out. I have a brand-new charcoal cabin filter waiting to be installed, which might help remove the smell. When I arrived to pick up the truck, the service advisor simply asked for the keys to the loaner and handed me the receipt with $0 owed, so I'm very grateful for how they took care of me. While I was there, I asked the sales advisor in person about the possible "buyback" status, and he said he checked with his manager, who confirmed it was not a buyback truck. Hopefully, the service advisor was just mistaken.
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