Fiesta Fird at I-10 Auto mall, Indio Ca. Decieved, Cheated, Lied, Mistreated, Disreputable, Rip-off Company. They are Under Investigation by the California Dept. Of Consumer Fraud...
I will first state that I "WAS" a satisfied Ford vehicle owner prior to my dealings with Fiesta Ford Lincoln Mercury and Ford Motor Company.
To be brief my problems started after I purchased a 2000 Lincoln LS.
Approximately 4 months after the purchase I contacted the service dept. To have some warranty work scheduled, I was advised by the service dept, to drop the vehicle off on 4/17/01 so they would have the vehicle for a cold start on the 18th. This service appointment was for some minor warranty work (loose exhaust bolts, a slow engagement into reverse when cold and some dirt in the paint on the rear pillars and left rear door belt. When I dropped the vehicle off on the 17th I was advised that the repairs would take approx. Three days (one for the exhaust/trans and two at the body shop). Needless to say the vehicle was not done until 05/02/01. When I arrived at the service dept. On 05/02/01 I was given the keys to the vehicle and pointed in the direction of the car, upon inspection I noticed that both rear pillars were extremely dull and had excessive scratches. I went back into the service dept. And asked the service advisor to take a look at the vehicle.
Upon his inspection I was advised to bring the car back in two weeks so they could buff out the paint. Upon leaving the dealership I entered onto interstate 10, approx. 10 miles down the road the rear left window crashes to the bottom of the door off its track, I phoned dealership and was told they would not be able to get the vehicle in for approx one week.
On 5/15/01 I brought the vehicle back for the scheduled appointment that I made to have the rear pillars finished and the window fixed. Again, I was told this would take two days needless to say again this was not the case. When I was finally was notified that the vehicle was finished and ready to be picked up, I headed to fiesta ford service dept. This time the vehicle was brought up front unwashed, I was given a certificate to return at a latter date because they were two busy at that time. Upon inspection of the vehicle I noticed a knee sized dent in the right Rear quarter panel directly below the rear pillar, upon further inspection of the vehicle I noticed the same size dent under the left side panel and that both rear pillars looker like the had been sanded not buffed. Again I went back inside and got the service adviser and pointed this out.
He Again informed me the vehicle would have to go back to the body shop. At this point I was very disturbed with the manner in which I was being handled by the service dept. And felt it necessary to contact the original sales person to see if he could look into the matter. My sales person forwarded my information and concerns to a woman within the dealership who told me she would look into the matter. At this point I felt her efforts were genuine but still not the results I would expect, so, I contacted my salesperson again and asked him if he would set up a meeting with the general manager.
Several days later I meet with Mr. Weinstein (general manager of Fiesta Ford), I went over the problems I had been having with the service dept. And told him this was unacceptable and he agreed. He told me to give him a couple of days to look into this matter and he would get back to me.
Again, several days passed and no word from Wiegenstein so, I went to Palm Springs ford where I purchased another vehicle from and asked them how can I get this issue resolved. They informed me to contact the district rep for ford and explain the problem to them.
I then contacted Wiegenstein at fiesta ford and told him I would like to speak with a district rep. He stated he could not give out their info, but would contact the rep. And have them get back to me.
The following day, Ashley Miller (ford Rep.) contacted me and asked for some incite into the matter. After explaining the above she also agreed that this was unacceptable and needed to be looked into. At that time she informed me she would contact the dealership for some information and get back to me the following day.
I then went to Fiesta Ford and spoke to Wiegenstein and informed him that I spoke with Ashley miller. Weigenstein informed me that he was personally going to take a drive down to the body shop the following day to see what was going on.
The following day Ms. Miller contacted me as she stated and inform me that she would be coming down to the fiesta ford the following Friday.
I then contacted Weigenstein to see what transpired at the body shop but he informed me he had no time available to go on that day but would definitely go the following day.
The following afternoon I drove to fiesta ford to speak with Wiegenstein again. He informed me that he went to the body shop they were sending this vehicle out to and could not believe the condition of the shop He stated to me and I quote that they were painting cars outside; furthermore, he stated and I quote, that he thinks he found the root of the problem, it seems that the manager of the body shop has been buying lunches for Gary (service manager at Fiesta Ford) so, Gary has been sending our work to them as a favor. At that point, I asked Wiegenstein if I brought this vehicle in to your dealership as a trade, do you think you would know there was work done on it'~ He said, of course that's what were in the business of'. At that point I told Weigenstein that I no longer wanted this vehicle since I brought it in for some minor work and know the car looks like it has been in an accident. Mr. Wigenstein told me he would need to speak to Ms. Miller but he would see what he could do.
Between that conversation with Weigenstein and Ms. Millers trip to the dealership, Gary the service manager contacted me to try to smooth things over. He stated to me that the car was fine, his exact words to me were seventy five percent of the people who look at the car won't even notice anything wrong my response was well it should be one hundred percent of the people one hundred percent of the time. Needless to say, he agreed.
Ms. Millers trip to fiesta ford, was in June 1. After she had the opportunity to inspect the vehicle she contact me to inform me that she also agreed the vehicle was unacceptable and stated she needed a day or so to take care of things on her end, but would get me into a new vehicle no matter what it took. That's when she asked me if I would be happy with a 2001 Is and a change in the contract from a five year lease to a three year lease, as she stated that way the car would be under warranty for the entire term of the new lease. At that point I thanked her and asked her what the next step was. She informed me to come to the dealership and pick out a new vehicle. Approximately one hour later I received a call from Weigenstein who asked me to hold off on coming to the dealership because he wanted to try and locate a gray 2000 at another dealership in southern California if possible, because they were already loosing to much money by taking this car back and giving me a 2001 in its place.
The following Monday I contacted Weigenstein again to see if I should come to the dealership to pick out a vehicle, he asked me to hold off an hour or so because Gary the service manager wanted to speak to me first. Approximately one hour latter Gary called me and asked me if there was anything he could do to for me to keep the original 2000 ls. He stated that this was going to cost the service dept. $4000.00 and that he would be glad to give me an extended warranty for the duration of my lease, which I told him I was not interested in.
I then drove to fiesta ford, my original sales person was on vacation so Gill the closer from the original deal told me to look around the lot and pick out a vehicle, which I did. The vehicle I chose was a black 2001 Is, this vehicle had all the original options as the first Is vehicle plus an additional ground effects package that was listed on the window sticker options at $1599.00 or $1999.00 additional, which 1 told them I would pay the difference for in the loan payment Gill informed me that they needed to get some figures on the other vehicle and it would be best if I returned later that day.
That evening I returned to the dealership to pick up the vehicle, upon reviewing the contract I noticed that the payment had gone from the original five hundred dollar payment to six hundred and twenty dollars. I informed gill that everything was supposed to be the same as the original contract plus the difference for the ground effects. He said he would talk to the finance manager and see what he could do. Approx. Forty-five minutes later gill returns and tells me he can get the deal down to $595.00. My response was a fifteen hundred dollar ground effects package is adding 100 dollars to the deal, its not possible. At that point I got up and went to the finance booth and asked them if this was a big joke to them, I stated that they are well aware of the problems I have been having here and the situation at hand. The finance manager told me that was the best he could do. At that point I told them to forget the whole deal and that I would never recommend or buy from their dealership or ford again because of the way I have been treated.
I then left the dealership and phoned Ashley Miller, she was already gone for the day so I left her a message explaining the situation. I also contacted the ford arbitration program for assistance and explained the nature of the problems I had been having.
Ms. Miller contacted me the following and told me she would take care of the problem, several hours later she contacted me and told me it was taken care and I could proceed to the dealership to pick up the vehicle.
Later that day I arrived at fiesta ford to pick up the vehicle.
Approx. One month after the fact I received a letter from ford motor company (see attached) the letter stated because of concerns you recently expressed regarding your 2000 ls they were providing a certificate for 5000.00 towards the purchase or lease of a new vehicle during the next 90 days the period of the 90 days was 7/05/0 I thru 10/03/01. At that point I contacted the program headquarters at 1-800-404-4980, explained to the customer representative the situation of the 2000 LS, already being taken back by fiesta ford and the purchase of the new 2001 Is in its place on 06/06/01 The representative informed me that would not be a problem, to sign the certificate and take it to the dealership and I would be cut a check from them if I indeed did purchase or lease a new ford/Lincoln vehicle in place of the vehicle listed on the certificate (2000 Lincoln ls) before the dates on the certificate. At that point we signed the certificate and I took it to fiesta ford and turned it over to the finance manager who informed me she had never seen one of these but would forward it to the powers that be. The following day I phoned the finance manager to see what the status was. She informed me that they were applying the certificate toward the buyback of the 2000 Is, to make up for some of' the money they were loosing on this deal I then attempted to contacted you Weigenstein at least 30 times, but it seemed every time I called and was asked my name you happened to be in a meeting and never returned any of those calls.
Carol & Kevin
Palm Springs, California
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