Roy
Moderator
- Messages
- 7,446
So my son just bought a 2008 Ford Escape, only had 132,409 miles. In great physical condition - clean record, no accidents. Bought it for $3995 - $4412 TTL out the door. Sounded like a great deal, had recently passed a state inspection and it checked out mechanically. Or so we thought.
The very next day after we bought it a check engine light came on showing a P0741 code. Bad transmission. We called the dealer, he said he would work with us, his mechanic scanned it, they checked the transmission fluid, said it was clean (I checked it too - looked clean to my untrained eye) and they determined it was just the solenoid that needed replaced and assured us it was fine to drive. The transmission wasn't slipping at all - running fine, until this Tuesday. Son takes it to Aamco for an transmission inspection - a second opinion, they check it and as soon as he drives it off the lot, the transmission goes completely out. No gears at all. So, it looks like a complete transmission overhaul is needed. Another $2 - $3 grand. I am beyond pissed.
So the dealer is trying to work with us, but we want him to just give us our money back. The car doesn't fall under the Texas lemon law as it is before 2013 and the contract says it is "AS IS", but our consumer rights say we can take it to an arbitrator.
I am just really wanting to know if it is worth it to fight it and take it to arbitration or just bite the bullet and pay to get it fixed. The guy is saying he will work with us, although he is still insisting it is just the solenoid that needs replaced. I mean - we had the car less than 36 hours and it started having problems. I think we might have a pretty good case, but is it worth the cost of fighting it?
The very next day after we bought it a check engine light came on showing a P0741 code. Bad transmission. We called the dealer, he said he would work with us, his mechanic scanned it, they checked the transmission fluid, said it was clean (I checked it too - looked clean to my untrained eye) and they determined it was just the solenoid that needed replaced and assured us it was fine to drive. The transmission wasn't slipping at all - running fine, until this Tuesday. Son takes it to Aamco for an transmission inspection - a second opinion, they check it and as soon as he drives it off the lot, the transmission goes completely out. No gears at all. So, it looks like a complete transmission overhaul is needed. Another $2 - $3 grand. I am beyond pissed.
So the dealer is trying to work with us, but we want him to just give us our money back. The car doesn't fall under the Texas lemon law as it is before 2013 and the contract says it is "AS IS", but our consumer rights say we can take it to an arbitrator.
I am just really wanting to know if it is worth it to fight it and take it to arbitration or just bite the bullet and pay to get it fixed. The guy is saying he will work with us, although he is still insisting it is just the solenoid that needs replaced. I mean - we had the car less than 36 hours and it started having problems. I think we might have a pretty good case, but is it worth the cost of fighting it?