Steve Lehuta
Member
I have a question, I have a 2004 Trac that I bought new almost 2 1/2 years ago, it now has 29,000 miles on it. I wanted my alignment checked and since it's outside of the 12 month/ 12,000 warranty I took it to a nearby alignment shop instead of my dealer so that I could get a lifetime alignment plan. The shop doing my alignment said the right-hand front wheel can't be brought into Ford's spec and a shim kit will be needed from the dealer. Today the shop called me and said the shim parts plus labor will run me about $150. I thought about it and realized that there is also the factory 36 month/36,000 bumper to bumper warranty that should cover these parts so I stopped by my local dealer on my way home from work and explained my aligment situation. The service agent said that for me to come in for an alignment under warranty isn't possible since I'm outside the 12 month/12,000 mile point. Yep, sounds correct so far. They also said that if the alignment were to be checked by them and it was found that parts were needed then the parts and the alignment now be covered under warranty since I'm still in my bumper to bumper warranty. Still sounds correct.
I went home and called the shop that said I needed the shim kit and asked them if they were sure, they were so I told them I'm going to let the dealer correct this since the parts are covered under warranty. I called the dealer to schedule an appointment and the service dept had to "check" to make sure the shim kit was covered, the reply back was that it wasn't, it's considered an alignment item and alignments are only covered in the 12 month/12,000 mile warranty. They also said that an part such as a tie-rod end would be covered if fond bad. Now things don't sound correct!
If I bring them a vehicle that can physically be aligned as is, that's one thing, but if there are parts (in my case a shim kit) that is required to align the front end then there is something physically not correct with the suspension or its parts and to me this seems to be a warranty issue.
Do I sound off base? Does anyone have any insight to this?
Thanks for the help,
Steve
I went home and called the shop that said I needed the shim kit and asked them if they were sure, they were so I told them I'm going to let the dealer correct this since the parts are covered under warranty. I called the dealer to schedule an appointment and the service dept had to "check" to make sure the shim kit was covered, the reply back was that it wasn't, it's considered an alignment item and alignments are only covered in the 12 month/12,000 mile warranty. They also said that an part such as a tie-rod end would be covered if fond bad. Now things don't sound correct!
If I bring them a vehicle that can physically be aligned as is, that's one thing, but if there are parts (in my case a shim kit) that is required to align the front end then there is something physically not correct with the suspension or its parts and to me this seems to be a warranty issue.
Do I sound off base? Does anyone have any insight to this?
Thanks for the help,
Steve
