warrnety claims on modded cars

[HUSTLER]

A guy from my ford dealer made a special trip to my work today, to hand me a notice dated the 19th of april sent to all ford dealers.

Pretty much stating that they will be cracking done on modded cars and flaggin alot of cars. ANy car that's ever seen a race way or drag strip will be flagged! Anyway I have the 3 pages for evryone to read, is there somewhere I can post this up?? Anyone that wants them pm me your email and I will email them.

[HUSTLER]

to make it easier, I just OCR it all so here we go. from FCSD

Subject NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY LIMITATIONS

This purpose of this Service Managers Letter (SML) is to clarify the limits of Ford's Express New Vehicle Warranty and specifically outline cases where the Express New Vehicle Warranty may cease to apply.

It is essential that Dealer Principals, as well as vehicle Sales and Service personnel in your dealership, are aware of this communication.

Ford and Ford Performance Vehicles are passionate about great looking cars with high performance capabilities. Clearly our customers are equally as passionate this is evidenced through the fantastic sales results we are seeing with our Falcon XR and Ford Performance Vehicles range of products.

Unfortunately, with this increased level of intgrest in our high performance models, we are also seeing more frequent examples of cars being modified and/or driven in a manner contrary to Ford's recommendations.

The Express New Vehicle Warranty offered by Ford (detailed in the Owner's Manual) covers failures on the vehicle that are the result of defects in factory materials or workmanship UNDER NORMAL USE AND OPERATION. Customers must "properly maintain, use or operate the vehicle in accordance with the recommendations, instructions, capacity and operating limitations, specified for the vehicle by Ford". The statement also expressly provides that the "Ford vehicle warranty will not apply to any defect in, or which is attributable to, or to the use of, any modification made to the vehicle, unless such modification has been made by, or at the direction of, Ford".

Accordingly, where Ford becomes aware of cases of vehicle modifications (particularly powertrain and/or driveline) or vehicles being operated contrary to our recommendations we will be taking the following action:

WARRANTY ALERT CUSTOMER USAGE:

In cases where Ford has evidence of vehicles being operated in ,manner contrary to our recommendations (e.g. excessive Wheel spinning, participating incempetid giving etc), the vehicle will be placed on Warranty Alert. This serves to advise the servicing Dealership that the vehicle has been operated in a way that may have caused a failure that may not necessarily be covered by Ford's Express New Vehicle Warranty. Other components not affected by the vehicle being operated in this manner will still be covered by warranty.

[HUSTLER]

WARRANTY ALERT MODIFIED VEHICLE:

In cases where Ford has evidence of vehicles being modified from their original design, the vehicle will also be flagged as being on Warranty Alert. This serves to advise the servicing Dealership that the vehicle has been modified and that Dealership personnel must be vigilant in their assessment of whether or not a particular repair should be classified as a warranty or retail repair.

SERVICING DEALER'S RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of servicing Dealers to verify the warranty status of vehicles prior to conducting any warranty repair work.

It is essential that Dealership personnel check the warranty status of all vehicles entering their Service Departments prior to commencing any work that may potentially be claimed as warranty. Dealers can check the warranty status of a vehicle by reviewing the VEHNQ screen in SERVIS.

If a vehicle has a Warranty Alert flag against it, the dealership should contact Warranty Administration to understand the reason for the Warranty Alert being placed on the vehicle. Taking into account the reason for the Warranty Alert and in conjunction with Warranty Administration, the Dealership will then need to determine whether or not a warranty claim can legitimately be processed.

In cases where a vehicle is on Warranty Alert and a repair to an unaffected component is conducted, the Dealership Warranty Administrator must contact Warranty Administration (by fax or telephone on the numbers detailed below) who will arrange to have the Warranty Alert flag temporarily removed so the Dealer can lodge a claim.

Where a Dealership fails to check and identify a vehicle with a Warranty Alert flag and attempts to lodge a warranty claim for repairs that resulted from the reason for the Warranty Alert, the warranty claim will not be paid.

SELLING DEALER'S RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of selling Dealers to advise customers if the used Ford vehicle they are purchasing has been identified by Ford as potentially not being covered by the Ford Express New Vehicle Warranty.

Where Dealers sell aftermarket vehicle modifications, Dealership Sales staff must ensure customers are fully

eware that modificatlons made to their vehicle are not covered by the Ford Express New Vehicle Warranty.

Customers must also be informed that any failures to factory components that can be attributed to the

modification, will not be covered by the Ford Express New Vehicle Warranty.

[HUSTLER]

DRIVER TRAINING COURSES

Ford has received numerous customer queries in relation to professionally supervised driver training courses conducted by reputable bodies (eg. The Ford Performance Vehicles Performance Driver Training course). Customers have asked if participating in these driver training days will impact their vehicle's warranty.

Customers should be advised that participation in a professionally supervised driver training course does not represent vehicle use contrary to Ford's recommendations. We expect that sensible owner involvement in activities conducted under professional supervision, will provide no cause for warrantable or non warrantable damage or failure.

SUMMARY

As it is in both Ford's and the Dealer network's interest to not incur repair costs where the responsibility for failures is not attributed to them, Dealers are encouraged to report instances of modifications and inappropriate vehicle operation to Warranty Administration via fax. Warranty Administration will review the circumstances including the evidence provided and take action that is deemed appropriate.

Any questions regarding this communication should be directed to Warranty Administration on the following numbers:

Contact details for Warranty Administration:

Phone: (03) 9359 8418 or (03) 9359 7516

Fax: (03) 9359 8354

No Boundaries

Mark Winslow

General Manager

Ford Customer Service Division

[ZAP]

"No Boundaries"

Except with warranty claims

[Mondie]

In cases where Ford has evidence of vehicles being operated in ,manner contrary to our recommendations (e.g. excessive Wheel spinning,

Hustler,

Thanks for posting this. Looks like Ford are putting their dealers on notice that Ford will be cracking down in the future. l wonder where this leaves the Ford dealers who offer warranty voiding mods but continue to cover the cars at Fords expense?

l loved the excessive wheel spinning example. Just how tough are these cars

[ZAP]

Wonder if there is a way to hack their computer system and remove the cars....

[Cobra]

[Blown BA]

Easy there boy...you'll do yourself BRAIN DAMAGE :lol:

[Cro]

They have just said that track days are allowed, and will not effect the warranty of the car as long as a claim isn't made as a result of a track day.

Good stuff.