I took the Fiesta into the local dealer for her scheduled oil change and tire rotation. Since I ran over a large bolt last week and wrecked a tire, they were going to fix that as well. At the end of the day on Tuesday, the car is finally ready for me to pick up. I have been going through Fiesta withdrawal since I have not driven the car since last Thursday when the tire was punctured. Sara gives me a ride to the dealership; I jump in the Fiesta, and take off because I have another appointment. Once I get the car into the sunlight, I realize that the driver’s side floor mat is covered with large foot prints and are very dirty with oil dry. The door trim panel and driver’s side rocker panel are also full of dirt and scrape marks. I get to my destination and look around the outside of the car. Greasy hand prints on the door handles, on the A and B-pillars, and more grease on the front fenders. The wheel with the flat tire was full of grease and marks from the tire being mounted. Every time I bring my car in for service, I have to spend the night cleaning it! The car was a little dirty on the outside since it got rained on last week, and then was parked with the damaged tire for a few days while I was out of town. I was kind of hoping to get the car back clean, as some of the other agents have been getting their cars back. Instead, mine comes back even dirtier than I dropped it off. This has been the same issue I have had for the past 9 years when I take my car in for service, it always comes back a mess. I just hope they put the correct oil in the Fiesta, as they put the wrong stuff in our Escape a few weeks ago. Does good service exist anywhere?
Looks like they too enjoyed your car?
I just got mine back from it’s service and MOT.
A few Euros shy of a Grand (most of it labour). Which is actually what they would pay me if I take our local Cash for Clunkers deal …
But I love my ride. Having driven in a LEGO brick with only 73hp (half of my own car) while my car was serviced, it’s especially a joy to drive top down under the stary night in the Summer.
Unfortunately good service today is the exception instead of the rule. I can’t stand dealership service depts. I try to avoid them if at all possible. Have you tried going to a different dealership for service? There are some decent ones out their but you have to do a lot of research and also some trial and error. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been disappointed by lousy service at dealership service depts. I’ve always had to wipe down the steering wheel, door handles inside and out, the key, the gearshift lever…nearly everything the service dept technician may touch. My biggest disappointment comes when they don’t do the job right the first time. Repeat visits for the same issue are very, very aggravating! This isn’t exclusive to Ford dealers either. I’ve had Toyota’s and Honda’s and Chevy’s with the same problems. Honda dealers are some of the worst.
With the Fiesta, it is assigned a particular dealer for service so I can’t take it anywhere else. When Brandon and I work on our cars, we where gloves and then remove them whenever we touch the steering wheel or interior. We even go as far as changing our clothes to get inside when we work on our own stuff.
It is too bad that service seems to suffer from all companies. The problem isn’t related to just automotive, it is everywhere. 🙁
I know a very very good Ford dealer, but it’s in the Netherlands, a very small dealership somewhere up north. How to reckognise a good dealership? Find the smalles one near you, and if service and sales are in the same building, the service area should be about the same size as the sales part. Then you’ll know the emphasis of this dealer is on service, and not so much on sales. In the 18 Years i know drive Ford’s , i’ve always stuck with this dealer, never got a car back with grease-spots in the interior anywhere. There’s a dealership closer to me me which is a lot bigger, but i’ll stick to the one 20 miles away.