I purchased a new F-150 Lariat on may 28, 2015. When washing it a few days later I noticed a rough section on the Aluminum roof. Inspection revealed there was a hole in the roof about 1/4 inch wide and about 10 inched long in the inside lower edge off the first raised sections on the drivers side. It is not visible unless you get above the roof level. Has anyone else had similar problems with the new aluminum body? The vehicle was manufactured in January and has set in rain storms for about four months with all the items under the roof subject to rain and moisture. The dealer did tape over the hole when they inspected it.


Ford says that to correct the problem they must remove all the parts contiguous to the roof, cut the roof off, attach the new roof and then reinstall the moon roof, front and real windows, door gaskets and all the electronics and hardware installed in the roof. I believe the right thing to do is Ford should replace/buy back the vehicle. So far they have refused to do anything but make the repairs. I purchased the vehicle from Jim Kien Ford in Columbus Ohio and felt they would for sure support my efforts to have the vehicle replaced/repurchased but they have only supported Fords position to make the roof replacement. Any advise?


Thanks

 

Yep, get an attorney if they wont work with you on a replacement.....Yet another lesson here, always inspect a vehicle top to bottom in the most discerning ways to make sure that 45K you are plunking down is worth it.

 

Oh and my guess is this has nothing to do with aluminum as much as it does with poor craftmanship and crappy quality control. Why does the substance of the material have to be the cause of the problem?

 

I would tell Kien Ford you have 5 days to resolve this....Then on day 6 the local tv crew will be knocking on your door to do a news report on customer satisfaction and lack of customer satisfaction. Every local news has one reporter that reports on big issues like speeding in the school zone or who is dumping adult diapers in the local fishing hole....
Kien will NOT want this kind of publicity ...make the threat,,,then email the news crew if they don't resolve it.

 

In before the "suck it up and let the dealer make it right. $40k and you expect perfection?" Crew gets in here lol

 

HINT/TIP: You'll find posting in thesection more helpful/appropriate than General F150 Discussion posts.
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My dealer replaced my truck due to the rear of the cab dented in (factory). I fought for 5 hours and left with a new truck. They wanted to take it apart, I refused.

 

On Sept 8 I posted that my recently purchased F150 had a hole in the aluminum roof and that Ford would not replace it. Well I am happy to say I finally have a new 2016 F150. I talked with the GM at the dealer, Jim Keim Ford in Columbus, OH, and he said he would try to help me. A few days later, after talking with Ford executives, he e-mailed me advising that Ford had agreed to buy back my defective F150 and allow me full credit for purchasing a replacement vehicle. This effort occurred late in the model year so they helped me order a 2016 model. In addition they included a premium extended warranty an gave me cash for my first months payment. I drove my new F150 home on November 24, 2015. I am now again a happy Ford customer and stock owner. This would have never happened without the help of Matt Bonanno, Jim Keim Ford GM. If anyone in the Columbus, OH area is interested in purchasing a Ford product I highly recommend Jim Keim Ford.

 

Now That Is Called...Customer Service.
Its great to see you had a good out come.

 

Nice to see this problem resolved! Thanks for the follow up, I remember reading this a few months back. Glad you're happy with your new truck. Also glad you're not one of those guys that storms off and buys a different brand because of an issue!