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Ford replaced engine at no cost, but it refused to take pay for the other’s engine failure – resulting in a $7k bill.
Laura Hirschfeld and her mother, Susan, had nearly identical 2017 Ford Escapes with the four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. Laura and Susan loved the Escape’s ease of entry and exit, mileage, and cargo space. Until one day when their compact SUVs took a turn for the worse.
She said she was driving down the highway when suddenly her engine seized and stopped working without warning. Her local dealership said the costs to fix her Ford Escape.
They suggested replacing the engine with a new one, as coolant was leaking into the cylinder at just 44,000 miles.
“I just sobbed,” Laura told WCVB. “You expect to replace tires. You expect to have oil changes. You don’t expect a total engine replacement at 80,000 miles.”
Her mother faced the same engine problem with her Ford Escape
One day while Susan was running errands, she faced a similar issue.
“I was driving down the highway, and the engine just stopped,” said Susan. She reported a dashboard full of warning lights, her power steering cut out, and it felt impossible to limp the Ford Escape to the side of the road.
The dealership came up with the same diagnosis and fix: a new engine as a result of coolant leaking into the cylinder. A common problem for the four-cylinder EcoBoost engines. However, Susan’s Ford Escape only had a little more than 20,000 miles on it.
Ford replaced one engine, but not the other
Because Susan’s engine was under the factory powertrain warranty, the automaker replaced her engine at no cost. Laura, on the other hand, was out of luck.
Since her warranty was expired, the automaker shrugged its shoulders and told her to pay up or get out.
She ended up taking her Ford Escape to a different mechanic who was able to fix it, but it still cost her $7,000.
“It shouldn’t happen,” she said. “I was completely devastated.”