XR6 Turbo Driver abuse ??

[blown6speedXR6]

I am / was the proud oxner of a new XR6 turbo ute, the car was everything i wanted untill it blew the 6 speed manual gearbox, clutch descintigrated, causing major damage to the car under belly and fire wall, not to mention the gearbox.
The car is 3 months old and done 4,500Kms, and now I have been told by ford australia that I am not covererd under warranty, as in their opinion the damage was caused from driver abuse.
The Car has not been abused, i was higway driving when it let go.

I need help, I have only ever owned fords, and my love of the brand has been severly damaged.

I can not afford the estimated 10K repair bill.

Can anyone suggest the best cause of action, as Ford do not want to listen.

[billsta]

Is the car modified??? "you Play you Pay"
So did a dealer knock you back or head office?

[XR06T]

that is bullshit.. i do abuse my car and it didn't blow up like that.

there was another guy from wa whos car did the same thing. its a bit older than yours but not modified and just popped on a gear change.

what were you doing when it popped?

ask them to prove to you from the bits available that it is drive abuse.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by blown6speedXR6

I am / was the proud oxner of a new XR6 turbo ute, the car was everything i wanted untill it blew the 6 speed manual gearbox, clutch descintigrated, causing major damage to the car under belly and fire wall, not to mention the gearbox.
The car is 3 months old and done 4,500Kms, and now I have been told by ford australia that I am not covererd under warranty, as in their opinion the damage was caused from driver abuse.
The Car has not been abused, i was higway driving when it let go.

I need help, I have only ever owned fords, and my love of the brand has been severly damaged.

I can not afford the estimated 10K repair bill.

Can anyone suggest the best cause of action, as Ford do not want to listen.

That's disgusting

If the car's not modified then straight to Dept of Fair Trading. In your favour would be if you have a good driving record and insurance claim history. Although neither of those should matter it may help your cause in the event it goes to court.

I feel for you mate and it is absolutely disgusting the treatment they've given you being one of their loyal customers.

[blown6speedXR6]

Originally Posted by billsta

Is the car modified??? "you Play you Pay"
So did a dealer knock you back or head office?

Car is stock standard no modifications

[RG]

Originally Posted by blown6speedXR6

Car is stock standard no modifications

Well then that is a load of BS, have you contacted Ford HQ yet?

[jarridtheruler]

Thats crap mate, surely they will have to pay up to have it fixed. They shouldn't blow like that even when abused

[sfr rob]

Tell them there will be xr6t driver abuse, towards them.
What a crock of shite!!

[BAGTP454]

Write a letter to ford h.o brother theres no other way. also take up with 13FORD custmer relationship centre

-mohamed

[T-BOOST]

Sounds like a friday arvo gearbox, blowing on 4500km is a joke abuse or not.
It should handle abuse for 10x that km range, not to say that you were abusing it.
You cant let them get away with this, as XRO6T said it's still under warranty tell them to show you how they know it's been abused if they cant then they should fix it/replace it. do you have the tow truck reciept to show it was picked up on the freeway?

[FRDGAL]

Originally Posted by ozmale42

That's disgusting

If the car's not modified then straight to Dept of Fair Trading. In your favour would be if you have a good driving record and insurance claim history. Although neither of those should matter it may help your cause in the event it goes to court.

I feel for you mate and it is absolutely disgusting the treatment they've given you being one of their loyal customers.

I agree! Assuming you truly don't abuse the car, don't back down on this one. Do everything you can. If it was modified I would understand Ford's reaction to your claim but seeing as it's not modified and stock standard, I can't understand why they would deny the claim. Is it their policy to assume that XR6T drivers abuse their vehicles and therefore claims will not be honoured?!

You should fight this all the way. I know I would! Things like this are what will make people weary of buying from Ford. Geez if they won't even honour genuine claims, why would anyone want a Ford & it's warranty promise?!!

Good luck with this blown6speedXR6

Krissy

[SP.UTE1]

Give channel 9, A Current Affair a ring. They love these type of stories, and you will find Ford / The Dealer a lot more accomodating if they know ACA is getting involved. Good luck.

[billsta]

Call Fair Trading and then call The Service Manager letting him know that a compliaint has been made to the OFT, they should have you sorted after that.

[XR5-Boy]

Originally Posted by SP.UTE1

Give channel 9, A Current Affair a ring. They love these type of stories, and you will find Ford / The Dealer a lot more accomodating if they know ACA is getting involved. Good luck.

Great idea! Alot of companies seem to click into gear once they're on the TV lol.

[XR8]

These are high performance vehicles and are tested under extreme punishment situations, surely they can take what us "average" drivers dish out in any case.
I knew a guy who owned a VY SS Crummy door, and he was on his third diff and second gearbox, replaced under warranty no questions asked ???? maybe?.
I had an XR8 ute BA and used it to its "potential" although I would never admit to "abusing" it, surely someone has already "tested" Fords warranty and hopefully can help out ???
Good luck.

Ps, I would be willing to donate a $100 towards a "test case fund" if required....

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by blown6speedXR6

I am / was the proud oxner of a new XR6 turbo ute, the car was everything i wanted untill it blew the 6 speed manual gearbox, clutch descintigrated, causing major damage to the car under belly and fire wall, not to mention the gearbox.
The car is 3 months old and done 4,500Kms, and now I have been told by ford australia that I am not covererd under warranty, as in their opinion the damage was caused from driver abuse.
The Car has not been abused, i was higway driving when it let go.

I need help, I have only ever owned fords, and my love of the brand has been severly damaged.

I can not afford the estimated 10K repair bill.

Can anyone suggest the best cause of action, as Ford do not want to listen.

I bet if they're claiming "driver abuse" it's because Ford reckon a slipping clutch was the culprit, causing pressure plate to explode inside bell-housing?

[XRLNT-8]

My old man's BA has only done 27000 kays and the head gasket has blown, Ford HQ rang him about the claim and accused him of thrashing it! (He's a 74 year old pensioner) They are only going to pay for some of the repair costs.

[superpursuit83]

Originally Posted by billsta

Call Fair Trading and then call The Service Manager letting him know that a compliaint has been made to the OFT, they should have you sorted after that.

I say do this one, before ACA.

What have our legal eagles members got to say? An unmodified car under warranty. Do Ford have to prove the abuse, or do we have to prove we did not abuse the vehicle?

[superpursuit83]

Originally Posted by XRLNT-8

My old man's BA has only done 27000 kays and the head gasket has blown, Ford HQ rang him about the claim and accused him of thrashing it! (He's a 74 year old pensioner) They are only going to pay for some of the repair costs.

He should not be paying any of it I say. Thats wrong..

[Polyal]

While you do get the random T56 busting, to say it was driver abuse is a big call. I wonder what the other components of the car where like. I.e. tyres, diff bushes etc, things that could show signs of "abuse".

[DJL351]

Sounds suss to me. They don't just "blow up" and tear up the underside of the car even at 110KPH.
(and yes, I have seen that done)

Ford do not say no without go cause.... granted, they threaten all the time, in the hope the owner will fold.

But if they are standing their ground, there must be a reason.

[Squalo]

Forget about ACA and the like - they are just as likely to do an interview and some footage then throw it into a piece on street hoons.

Ford is probably getting a lot of warranty claims coming in on Turbos from people who *do* thrash them, and have likely adopted a seige mentality to weed out the abusers. Keep at it, and kick off a dialogue with Dept Of Fair Trading or equivalent. Get a dossier of your past driving history together (RTA printout of licence record, service history of past cars if available) and go from there.

[XR06T]

Originally Posted by Polyal

While you do get the random T56 busting, to say it was driver abuse is a big call. I wonder what the other components of the car where like. I.e. tyres, diff bushes etc, things that could show signs of "abuse".

thats a good point.. if you have barely taken anything off the tyres, and there is no remnants of ruber inside the rear bumper, they havent got a leg to stand on mate.

DO NOT take it lying down. you know your right, and they should be paying.

Definatly ring the Fair Trading people.

[Ives]

Sad to hear, I hope everything is sorted out ASAP.

[mickyyyy]

A friend of mine had his diff gearbox and turbo all replaced.

They said it was his driving style and would not cover the car. Threaten them with legal action and a detailed report from an independent workshop.

Worked for him

[fordAU]

Originally Posted by blown6speedXR6

Can anyone suggest the best cause of action, as Ford do not want to listen.

Who told you this ?, the dealer or FordHQ.

If the vehicle is modified, even an aftermarket exhaust you may have a problem. If not as suggested by RedXR347 Ford HQ are the ones who would have to justify the decision to not honour the warranty.

If all else fails legal representation may be your only option, will cost you though.

[joe260]

yeah josh (jdf340) has an XR8 and has finally got his car back on the road after 6 months. i think he spent about $12,500 + and ford said they couldnt fix it coz it wasnt under warranty.

[Piotr]

Try a different dealer. Ive never had a problem with my local dealer Thompson Ford Parramatta even with the gearbox being repaired twice under warranty, once for synchros and linkages and other for slave cylinder.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by XRLNT-8

My old man's BA has only done 27000 kays and the head gasket has blown, Ford HQ rang him about the claim and accused him of thrashing it! (He's a 74 year old pensioner) They are only going to pay for some of the repair costs.

That's even more disgusting, a large corporate taking advantage of an old age pensioner....Is it out of warranty?...if not then he too should take it further

[ebxr8240]

Make you havn't done anything .. There's possibly an abuse mod in ECU ???
These days its quite possible .....