Ford Perforation and Repair Centre Warranty. Buyer beware!

spinbuster

Most car owners should not need to claim under Ford Perforation Warranty as this extends for 12 years which reflects the improved standard of bodywork.
However, if the bodywork needs repair due to an accident then this improved standard can be compromised by the repairer.
My local Ford Accident Repair Centre in Stafford repaired a door 2 years into the Perforation Warranty period. Unfortunately, it started to rust 6 years later, 1 year outside the 5 Year Repair Centre Warranty.
As I was outside the Ford Repair Centre Warranty I tried to claim under the Ford Perforation Warranty. This was first rejected by the Ford Customer Relations centre in Daventry after a VIN check, on the grounds that my Aug 2002 Mondeo was only covered for 6 years.
Eventually, I managed to convince them this was not correct so they moved on to the “Annual body and paint checks” requirement. Apparently, every owner has to take their Ford vehicle into a Ford Accident Repair Centre every year so that the condition of the bodywork can be recorded and the Perforation Warranty maintained and having your vehicle regularly serviced by a Ford Dealer is not sufficient to maintain the Perforation Warranty.
I contacted my insurer Tesco Insurance to report the substandard repair and asked them to reopen the claim as the original job had not been done correctly.
At first they tried to reject my claim on the grounds that it was outside their 5 year warranty.
When I asked them to show me where the 5 year warranty requirement was stated in the policy they could not do so. Despite this they are still refusing to pay out, leaving me to take the matter to the Financial Ombudsman for resolution.
I will be checking bodywork repairs for rust before the repair warranty runs out in future.

flashg67

I think you need to confirm this - an annual check by a Ford dealer whilst they do the service is sufficient and I would be strongly questioning whoever told you this, or asking Ford again, as from my experience (motor/car leasing trade), this is incorrect... good luck


Edit - I don't currently own a Ford, but is the paint/body check not shown as a seperate tick in the service book - it's certainly part of the service check list. You could try here and use the 'vehicle lookup' to find a service sheet http://www.etis.ford.com/fordservice/home.do

If that doesn't work, give me your car details or reg number and I'll generate a service sheet for you - the paint/body check is under the extended period maintenance section and the wording is this - 'Visual body & paint checkEvery 12 or 24 months depending on vehicle type and build year/registration date. Carry out during operations marked (+) above - see detailed Check Sheet - if applicable (LTS 54 555 1 +)'

spinbuster

Before posting my comment, I searched on the web for a Ford Service Schedule but could not find one. Thank you for providing the link to it.
I was given the information on the phone by a person at the Ford Customer Relationship Centre in Daventry. I do not think I should name the individual.
I wrote a note following the conversation as follows:- “Perforation Warranty inspections at local body shop. Not part of service at Ford Dealerships”.
I think he just got a bit carried away fobbing me off after they failed with the 6 years warranty attempt and because I drew his attention to a Diagnostic Check I had paid for at the local Ford Dealership and asked him wouldn’t a paint check have been done then?

ukjoel

It may have changed but it used to be that the dealer had to carry out a paint and body check at the same time as the service. I think there was somewhere in the book where it needed to be stamped.

Without the annual stamp your 12 year anti perforation warranty was useless. Check out the number of 10 year old Pumas that are covered in rust.

Dealers then got smart and started charging for this inspection at which point nowone bothered getting them done.

There was a bit of a grief about monopolies and this was changed to allow services to be done elswhere but dealers would still charge for this check. Nowone ever found out what the check was for as the average service tech isnt an expert on bodywork (no disrespect to service techs) and they never had the special tools that Ford said they needed to use.

Have never seen a sucessful claim on this for a vehicle outside its 3 year warranty.

This is why the Vauxhall lifetime 100k warranty is so interesting.
Big promises but will they deliver.

Returning to OP - I think its a case of if you shout loud enough and long enough on this one you will get what you want.

Tilt

Speaking from a Fiat point of view (having worked at a dealership and as an owner), it sounds the same. There is a requirement to have an inspection done but if done so when having a scheduled service, it should be free. In the event of any body repair being necessary, as long as it is carried out and then approved by an 'official' dealership, the warranty should be maintained.

As for the VX 'lifetime' warranty, there will no doubt be clauses in it somewhere to make it favourable to VX, not the customer. Personally I would'nt like to test it seeing all the VX issues we get on CAG!