Paint problem on my hood scoop

stock01gt · 01-20-2004

Hey guys and gals,

I have an 01 laser red GT. I was washing the car one day, and there was a spot on the hood scoop that just wouldn't come clean. I thought it was a bird bomb at first, but it just would not go away.

I took a closer look at it and found that the paint had been eaten away by something. It's not a solid hole in the paint, just a bunch of spots in a circular pattern about the size of an old silver dollar.

I thought about it for a while, and couldn't come up with anything that has happened that could have caused the problem. I have kept it clean and waxed, and when a bird hits it, I promptly wash it off.

I took it to the dealer because the car is still under warranty. The guys at the dealer agreed that it should be covered under warranty. They took pictures, and sent them to the digital imaging company. The digital imaging company denied my claim.

I have gone to the dealer twice, appealed to the regional service rep, called the Ford customer service twice and bent their ears pleading my case. I have emailed them as well, all to no avail.

Has anyone out there had any paint problems like this? Anybody have any suggestions for another path to get this resolved?

I've had a body shop tell me they could fix it for $100.00, but they even thought it should be covered under warranty. It's not so much the money, but the principle of the thing.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Thanks,
Rick

GTRaptor · 01-20-2004

Does the spot look like a "Air" trapped between the clearcoat and the base color?

stock01gt · 01-20-2004

Thanks for the reply Robert.

If you mean like the clearcoat is bubbling up, then no.

The paint and clear coat has actually come off in this place. It is a series of 40 or 50 spots about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pin, in an area about the size of a silver dollar.

I think some kind of contaminant got on the hood scoop in the factory, then it got painted. It just took a couple of years for the contaminant to eat through the paint.

Ron · 01-20-2004

I have little white spots all over the front of my hood. This happened about 4 years ago, could never find out what happened. So, we added a couple of big black stripes on the hood to cover 90% of the mess up. When we have the money the car will get repainted.

GTRaptor · 01-20-2004

Rick, keep trying with Ford to repair under warranty, or else spend those $100

stock01gt · 01-20-2004

I'm still trying with Ford, but I'm caught in an infinite loop.

Go to dealer, they feel my pain but can't do anything. Tell me to call customer service and plead my case.

Call customer service, they feel my pain and frustration, tell me to go to dealer and plead my case.

Go to dealer......

I've tried email to customer service, they say they see that I talked to customer service on the phone, and hope I am satisfied. I told them I was not, and they just said I hate it for ya.

I was hoping someone around here has had a similar problem, and maybe had another avenue I could take.

Thanks for all of the replies.

Rick

meatball · 01-21-2004

Have you called FOMOCO/Dearborn HQ and gotten address for Mr. Ford himself - write him a letter (have someone proofread letter for you before sending, hard to proof your own work)

stock01gt · 01-22-2004

I've been pondering that. I doubt he would actually read it, but then again, what do I have to lose.

I think I will do that and see how it goes.

Thank meatball. :-)

Rick

meatball · 01-22-2004

Keep copies of all invoices, estimates, letters, etc. Send registered letters/return reciept required and keep those as well.
document dates/times of phone calls and WHO YOU SPOKE TO!!!!!
Consider filing a complaint w/BBB - Better Business Bureau, and if you do, make sure the dealer managers know that you are doing it. Don't raise your voice, write nasty words, threaten, etc. Be cool, determined, and professional.
Find out who's the District Customer Satisfaction manager and talk to him/her or that person's manager; cc: the ower/sales/service manager of your dealer when sending correspondence to other Ford managers.

Sit down for a few minutes and write down all the details on what you've done so far; date you got car, date you first noticed problem, date/time/who, etc. you first complained to and the response. - the better the documentation you have on problem, better the chances you'll force them to do something about it.

This is a bunch of work but you said: IT'S THE POINT'