F150 Order Cancellation

[DaveM]

New to this site, but it looked interesting and informative. I have a situation I have never encountered before and wonder if anyone else has.

I ordered a new 2024 F150 King Ranch on March 3, 2024. Received confirmation email from Ford on March 17, 2024 with Order ID number and information that they would keep me updated with scheduled build date. The last update was September 24, 2024 (only the 2nd update) stating Ford was still processing the scheduled build date for my truck and that my patience is greatly appreciated. As Ford had stated in the initial email on March 17, they would continue to update me at least every 45 days. This is the first promise they failed to honor.

After returning from a vacation in early June I was informed by a friend of mine that when my truck arrived it would be delivered to my local Ford dealer as the dealership I had purchased the truck from had been sold. I was never contacted by Ford, the purchasing dealership, or the new dealership who had absorbed the inventory and commitments of my purchasing dealership. I contacted Ford via the web, was passed thru several departments only to be told they had no knowledge of what was transpiring among dealerships. I visited the local dealership in early June to get some information as to my status. I was informed that indeed they had been purchased by a new entity and had absorbed all inventory and commitments of my initial purchasing dealership. I showed the sales associate my purchase contract, she was surprised the selling dealership had given me a written trade in price at the time of sales as due to the long build times this is not normally done now I guess. She assured me she would check into this and get back to me. To date I have not heard from her again. Another first for me as far as Ford customer relations.

In September I received a call from a salesman at the new dealership who had purchased my selling dealership and the local Ford dealership. I thanked him for reaching out as he was the first Ford representative since I ordered the truck in March who had contacted me. Very professional, he said he had reviewed my purchase/build order and due to the change over to 2025 models in October there was a good possibility I might get a 2025 model. He would continue to keep me updated.

On November 13, 2024 I again contacted Ford Motor Company via the phone to check on the status of my build. After again being transferred to various departments I was connected with a representative in Marketing. He reviewed my Order number then told me my order had been bounced, no explanation given. I was told I would have to reorder a 2025. I immediately went to my new dealership salesman that had contacted me previously to inquire as to what was going on. He attempted to locate my build number in the system and could not locate it. He was very surprised at this as the dealership had not been informed either.

I hesitate to guess how long I might have had to wait before Ford saw fit to contact me. In all fairness I do not fault the new dealership for this situation, they have been very helpful with my potential purchase of a 2025 King Ranch. I am researching pricing at several dealerships. I apologize for this long story, but I have been buying Ford products ever since my first purchase of a 1959 Ford in 1965. I have never encountered such response from Ford or their dealerships in the past. Not a good way to build customer relationships or retain a long time customer.

Has anyone encountered a situation like this. Do I have any recourse against Ford?

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[roadPilot]

A dealership gave you a trade in offer on your existing truck that they would not take possession of (and you would continue putting miles on) for likely close to a year, but would honor that exact trade in value a year later? I find that difficult to believe. Impossible, actually.

To answer your original question: No, you are not the first person who had ordered a vehicle, had the dealership get sold, and the order get messed up. You do realize that neither dealership - even the original one if it was still there - has any legal obligation to sell you a vehicle, ordered or otherwise, right?

The dealership who ordered the truck no longer exists. All bets are off if that happens. Yes, it's a crappy situation, but you don't have any binding agreement with anyone else.

Sorry to hear you find yourself in a pickle.

 

[Azstroke]

Other than the sheer nightmare that you've gone through, I hope you didn't loose any cash in placing the order. It wouldn't hurt to contact Ford to see if there is any recourse for what they put you through, especially if they want to keep your business, but I wouldn't hold out hope that they would do this one their own.

 

[FORDTEXAS]

i need a TLDR lol

 

[DaveM]

A dealership gave you a trade in offer on your existing truck that they would not take possession of (and you would continue putting miles on) for likely close to a year, but would honor that exact trade in value a year later? I find that difficult to believe. Impossible, actually.

To answer your original question: No, you are not the first person who had ordered a vehicle, had the dealership get sold, and the order get messed up. You do realize that neither dealership - even the original one if it was still there - has any legal obligation to sell you a vehicle, ordered or otherwise, right?

The dealership who ordered the truck no longer exists. All bets are off if that happens. Yes, it's a crappy situation, but you don't have any binding agreement with anyone else.

Sorry to hear you find yourself in a pickle.

Some clarification on the trade. Salesman said he expected it would take maybe 3, 4 at the most months to get the new truck. I told him I would use the truck as little as possible, in fact I have not put 1200 miles on the truck in 8 months. It was the dealerships option to call the truck in anytime they had a buyer for it. Things might not turn out so bad after all. Have two price quotes to date and I will be able to trade for a 2025 for less money per year difference than when I was dealing on a 2024. Thumbs up for the local dealerships, still upset with Ford Motor Company.

 

[TarnishedCopper]

You should contact an attorney to see what you rights are and whether Ford is still legally responsible, since you have a contract signed by both parties agreeing to the transaction. At least protect your rights. Perhaps a letter from your attorney to Ford might wake up some people and get you a honey of a deal.

 

[roadPilot]

Some clarification on the trade. Salesman said he expected it would take maybe 3, 4 at the most months to get the new truck. I told him I would use the truck as little as possible, in fact I have not put 1200 miles on the truck in 8 months. It was the dealerships option to call the truck in anytime they had a buyer for it. Things might not turn out so bad after all. Have two price quotes to date and I will be able to trade for a 2025 for less money per year difference than when I was dealing on a 2024. Thumbs up for the local dealerships, still upset with Ford Motor Company.

Again, I'd love to see the agreement that they'd pay the same for your trade 4 months and an unknown number of miles later vs the day they made the offer. That's simply not the way dealerships operate. I've purchased or leased 13 or 14 (lost count) new Ford or Lincoln vehicles in the last 18 years alone, and have traded in many vehicles.

You didn't have a deal with Ford Motor Company, so I have no clue why you could be upset with them.

Glad it sounds like things will work out, though.

 

[roadPilot]

You should contact an attorney to see what you rights are and whether Ford is still legally responsible, since you have a contract signed by both parties agreeing to the transaction. At least protect your rights. Perhaps a letter from your attorney to Ford might wake up some people and get you a honey of a deal.

That's not how it works. A dealership is no more obligated to sell you a vehicle than you are obligated to purchase it. Either party can walk away at any time.

Think about it: You order a car and, while you are waiting for it to be built, you lose your job. Can the dealer force you to buy it? No. It works both ways. They don't HAVE to sell it to you, either.

 

[TarnishedCopper]

I am not an attorney. Any legal implication would come from Ford not building the vehicle you agreed to purchase from them.

 

[roadPilot]

I am not an attorney. Any legal implication would come from Ford not building the vehicle you agreed to purchase from them.

You don't have an agreement with Ford. You have an agreement with the dealership, most of which are independently owned and operated.

Read the standard purchase agreement. Neither party is OBLIGATED to sell/buy.

Again, if the dealership was obligated to sell, then you would also be obligated to buy. If you lost your source of income (or just changed your mind - perhaps there were new recalls or safety concerns or you just decided you wanted to buy something else), the dealership could sue YOU for damages.

I'm not any attorney either, but one of my two degrees did require me to suffer through too many business and contract law classes -- and I've researched this particular topic over the years. The ONLY thing that matters is what's in the signed contract. Unless that agreement specifically states that either/both parties MUST execute (and outlines damages if they fail to execute), there is no legal obligation on either party.

 

[nvabill]

New to this site, but it looked interesting and informative. I have a situation I have never encountered before and wonder if anyone else has.

I ordered a new 2024 F150 King Ranch on March 3, 2024. Received confirmation email from Ford on March 17, 2024 with Order ID number and information that they would keep me updated with scheduled build date. The last update was September 24, 2024 (only the 2nd update) stating Ford was still processing the scheduled build date for my truck and that my patience is greatly appreciated. As Ford had stated in the initial email on March 17, they would continue to update me at least every 45 days. This is the first promise they failed to honor.

After returning from a vacation in early June I was informed by a friend of mine that when my truck arrived it would be delivered to my local Ford dealer as the dealership I had purchased the truck from had been sold. I was never contacted by Ford, the purchasing dealership, or the new dealership who had absorbed the inventory and commitments of my purchasing dealership. I contacted Ford via the web, was passed thru several departments only to be told they had no knowledge of what was transpiring among dealerships. I visited the local dealership in early June to get some information as to my status. I was informed that indeed they had been purchased by a new entity and had absorbed all inventory and commitments of my initial purchasing dealership. I showed the sales associate my purchase contract, she was surprised the selling dealership had given me a written trade in price at the time of sales as due to the long build times this is not normally done now I guess. She assured me she would check into this and get back to me. To date I have not heard from her again. Another first for me as far as Ford customer relations.

In September I received a call from a salesman at the new dealership who had purchased my selling dealership and the local Ford dealership. I thanked him for reaching out as he was the first Ford representative since I ordered the truck in March who had contacted me. Very professional, he said he had reviewed my purchase/build order and due to the change over to 2025 models in October there was a good possibility I might get a 2025 model. He would continue to keep me updated.

On November 13, 2024 I again contacted Ford Motor Company via the phone to check on the status of my build. After again being transferred to various departments I was connected with a representative in Marketing. He reviewed my Order number then told me my order had been bounced, no explanation given. I was told I would have to reorder a 2025. I immediately went to my new dealership salesman that had contacted me previously to inquire as to what was going on. He attempted to locate my build number in the system and could not locate it. He was very surprised at this as the dealership had not been informed either.

I hesitate to guess how long I might have had to wait before Ford saw fit to contact me. In all fairness I do not fault the new dealership for this situation, they have been very helpful with my potential purchase of a 2025 King Ranch. I am researching pricing at several dealerships. I apologize for this long story, but I have been buying Ford products ever since my first purchase of a 1959 Ford in 1965. I have never encountered such response from Ford or their dealerships in the past. Not a good way to build customer relationships or retain a long time customer.

Has anyone encountered a situation like this. Do I have any recourse against Ford?

I am at a loss at to what exactly you want? Did you place a deposit, do you want it back and they are refusing? What exactly are the damages you seek compensation for, I'm just not getting the issue here, go find another dealer and buy or order a truck.

 

[gh8toes]

Problem you'll have with the '25 is all the de-contenting on the '25s such as removing keyless entry. Something fishy here, don't understand how Ford couldn't build a vehicle order placed over 6 months ago. Did you have your dealership look for a 24 KR in other dealer inventory. Not sure what color you ordered, but I am not a fan of the grey lower paint trim on the 25 KRs. Remember, "squeaky wheel gets the grease".

 

[roadPilot]

I am at a loss at to what exactly you want? Did you place a deposit, do you want it back and they are refusing? What exactly are the damages you seek compensation for, I'm just not getting the issue here, go find another dealer and buy or order a truck.

Yea, unless they have his cash - and assuming his agreement didn't say "non-refundable deposit" - his only recourse is to take his business elsewhere.

 

[DaveM]

I am at a loss at to what exactly you want? Did you place a deposit, do you want it back and they are refusing? What exactly are the damages you seek compensation for, I'm just not getting the issue here, go find another dealer and buy or order a truck.

No compensation expected as no money changed hands. Maybe I'm old school, but when I tell someone I am going to do something I either do it or explain why I cannot do as I promised. The selling dealership only processed my buy order to Ford who then informed me they had my request and would keep me updated as to a build and future delivery date I feel the selling dealership should have informed all customers who had pending orders that they had been purchased by another dealer and their orders were still valid and in the system. I also feel the new dealer should have informed all customers with pending orders of the new status and contact information. And lastly Ford who notified me after they received my order in March that they would continue to keep me updated which they only did twice thru the end of September could have at the very least gave some indication of production delays and at the very least informed me when they cancelled the order.

It's just good common business sense to keep all parties informed. I would never recommend Ford Motor Company to anyone again, although there are some very good dealerships out here who have been very helpful with my reorder of a 2025 King Ranch.

 

[DaveM]

That's not how it works. A dealership is no more obligated to sell you a vehicle than you are obligated to purchase it. Either party can walk away at any time.

Think about it: You order a car and, while you are waiting for it to be built, you lose your job. Can the dealer force you to buy it? No. It works both ways. They don't HAVE to sell it to you, either.

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