Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

Julia of Newbury Park, CA, writes:
Took my 2000 Ford Explorer in for 25K service. The next day my air conditioner would not blow cold air. The service advisor noted a small dent in the condenser causing a leak; perhaps when a rock hit the condenser? Although I have bumper-to-bumper warranty and only 25,700 miles, he advised me this would not be covered and I had to pay over $800 to correct (new condenser and accumulator).

I filed a complaint with Ford Motor Company, who said it definitely sounded like it should be covered and that he would contact the dealer that day. The following day the service advisor said he had not been contacted and told me he would save the parts. A few days later the service advisor followed up to say he still hadn't heard from Ford. A second call to Ford showed that my claim had been denied, that they had talked to the service advisor and it was not covered.

I asked what my next step might be to talk to someone about this and they gave me a general address to send a letter to their corporate HQ, which I'm sure no one will read. The service advisor still has not heard from them (someone is lying) and wants to know what to do with the parts.

Although this is a 2000 model, have you heard about this occurring before? The service advisor said he'd seen a few with this problem. It appears that if it was a rock that flew in under my car or through the front bumper panels by the fog lights, that it is a defect in the design of the car. I have no assurance this will not happen again.

I currently am driving my Honda to work. I'm afraid that if the service advisor is correct, another rock might fly into the condenser again and this could be quite expensive. At this point I can't recommend buying a Ford and don't think I will EVER own another one since it appears they don't care if this should be a recall item or not. (I also wonder if my car was accidentally damaged during the 25K service. The timing really makes me wonder.)