Dec 21, 2022
So just like many others on this forum I am frustrated, pissed off and left wondering how a company with over 100 years of automotive manufacturing experience is operating like this - and screwing the customer over all the way along.
I places a reservation way back in Aug 2020 and put my initial order in with my dealer in Jan 0f 2021 for an Outer Banks. Received a confirmation from Ford for the order in March of 2021. I played the game like others of removing hard top MIC and tow package so maybe I could get my rig built but this did not happen. In the I fall received an email from Ford saying I needed to place an order for a 2022 model and did so in Oct of 2021. In February 2022 I changed my build to a WildTrack since I though might as well get what I really want and supposedly as long as you got your order in before the cut off date in March 2022 your place in line would not be affected - it was based on your reservation date.
Well the news comes out sometime early in 2022 about allocations playing a role in when customer's vehicles get built? Really, so all along we are told it is based on reservation date and part availability for the trim/options you have? Fast forward through the spring and summer and there is no communication from Ford or the dealer, even though I had called my dealer numerous times, sent emails and no communication. With my dealer I have to go in person and try and get an update and all they basically say is they have no update and no way of finding out anything. I have called Ford at least 5x in the event I will get in touch with someone in the "Marketing" department who will actually put me in touch with someone higher or who can give me a real answer but no luck.
Fast forward to August 2022 and I am beyond mad as I am seeing WildTrack builds in my area (San Diego) with license places from other dealers. I call those dealers and while nice they don't give me much information. One day I start to vent my frustrations on Ford's Twitter and Facebook pages and get a response but it is from the "Marketing" department of course and those responding know less than someone off the street would know.
Meanwhile I have put in voicemails and emails to the GM of my dealership with no responses - go figure.
In my last call with Ford on 9/12 the lady did say I could file a formal complaint against my dealer - so I did even though I know they are not 100% responsible for this, however their communication has been completely non-existent and only happens reactively when I force them to communicate.
I finally get the GM to call me and he is pretty flippant and says he will talk to his rep but there is not much he can do. I am a small business owner so I understand running a biz is difficult but also learned a long time ago that communication is #1 even when you do not have an update, or have information your customer may not want to hear.
FF to late September and yet again here comes the email noting that I need to place an order yet again for the 2023 build now. The same day I get this email is the same day I hear from my friend who reserved and placed an order 13 months after my reservation date and got a build date. Needless to say I am pretty pissed off at this point and almost to the point where I do not care anymore.
October 27th comes along and low and behold I receive an email from Ford with a build date for the week of 12/5. The day is finally here - my rig is going to be built. I can't wait till December now, and that special week. On 12/3 I get another email saying my build date has changed to w/o 12/12 and I think it's one week who cares. Then it moves to 12/19 with a notice 3 days into that week and now a notice saying it has been rescheduled for the week of 1/9/2023...
still waiting on it's been 2 years, 4 months and counting since my reservation.....
I places a reservation way back in Aug 2020 and put my initial order in with my dealer in Jan 0f 2021 for an Outer Banks. Received a confirmation from Ford for the order in March of 2021. I played the game like others of removing hard top MIC and tow package so maybe I could get my rig built but this did not happen. In the I fall received an email from Ford saying I needed to place an order for a 2022 model and did so in Oct of 2021. In February 2022 I changed my build to a WildTrack since I though might as well get what I really want and supposedly as long as you got your order in before the cut off date in March 2022 your place in line would not be affected - it was based on your reservation date.
Well the news comes out sometime early in 2022 about allocations playing a role in when customer's vehicles get built? Really, so all along we are told it is based on reservation date and part availability for the trim/options you have? Fast forward through the spring and summer and there is no communication from Ford or the dealer, even though I had called my dealer numerous times, sent emails and no communication. With my dealer I have to go in person and try and get an update and all they basically say is they have no update and no way of finding out anything. I have called Ford at least 5x in the event I will get in touch with someone in the "Marketing" department who will actually put me in touch with someone higher or who can give me a real answer but no luck.
Fast forward to August 2022 and I am beyond mad as I am seeing WildTrack builds in my area (San Diego) with license places from other dealers. I call those dealers and while nice they don't give me much information. One day I start to vent my frustrations on Ford's Twitter and Facebook pages and get a response but it is from the "Marketing" department of course and those responding know less than someone off the street would know.
Meanwhile I have put in voicemails and emails to the GM of my dealership with no responses - go figure.
In my last call with Ford on 9/12 the lady did say I could file a formal complaint against my dealer - so I did even though I know they are not 100% responsible for this, however their communication has been completely non-existent and only happens reactively when I force them to communicate.
I finally get the GM to call me and he is pretty flippant and says he will talk to his rep but there is not much he can do. I am a small business owner so I understand running a biz is difficult but also learned a long time ago that communication is #1 even when you do not have an update, or have information your customer may not want to hear.
FF to late September and yet again here comes the email noting that I need to place an order yet again for the 2023 build now. The same day I get this email is the same day I hear from my friend who reserved and placed an order 13 months after my reservation date and got a build date. Needless to say I am pretty pissed off at this point and almost to the point where I do not care anymore.
October 27th comes along and low and behold I receive an email from Ford with a build date for the week of 12/5. The day is finally here - my rig is going to be built. I can't wait till December now, and that special week. On 12/3 I get another email saying my build date has changed to w/o 12/12 and I think it's one week who cares. Then it moves to 12/19 with a notice 3 days into that week and now a notice saying it has been rescheduled for the week of 1/9/2023...
still waiting on it's been 2 years, 4 months and counting since my reservation.....
Rydfree, LoneRanger
Last edited by a moderator:
Dec 21, 2022