10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,700
Average Mileage:
93,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. ford in diff. town rebuilt....sarasota ford ruined it (1 reports)
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problem #1

Oct 232002

(reported on)

F-350 XLT Diesel Dual

  • 93,000 miles

I took the truck to the ford dealer in sarasota, they wanted to flush everthing....replace all fluids, would only charge 697.00.....I said do one thing at a time, so they did trans first... (IT WAS WORKING PERFECTLY). So I agreed....told them not to add any detergents of any kind....just flush....out with the old...in with the new. Charged me 149.95. I left and about a week later left for Tenn. to see color change...pulling my 5th wheel camper..... we made about 250 miles when trans. gave out. I took it to local dealer the following monday and they had to repair trans.....cost 1700.00. My vacation was ruined. we stayed at a local campground while truck was repaired. Dealer in Lake City Florida was kind...gave us a car to drive (no charge) and the job took about 3 days. I feel that sarasota ford never should have put detergent in trans when flushing, especially when i ask them not to. they put 2 cans in...i watched them. I had previously ask ford factory and sarasota ford for proper use of trans and they both assured me ok to pull trailer with this truck. its a f-350 one ton diesel duelly super cab with a 4:10 rear end. engine is wonderful and i talked with previous owner...he changed oil at required intervals and went to ford dealer for his service. I have since taken the truck to math-currie ford in nokomis florida for oil change. several mechanics i have shared this story with agree that sarasota ford should have never flushed tranny with detergents....loosened up sediments, and could create a problem later. The same mechanics have advised me that they are, and have been aware of this for some time. they have heard of trans. failure after this type of procedure. I will never go back to sarasota ford. I have sent e/mails to the factory about this....they say....too bad...so sad...but feel like it not their problem....I requested a meeting with their service rep. who would call on them from the factory...i got no answer from my request. i was asso with General Motors auto/truck sales for past 30 years, and am aware of how the service dept/operation works. when FORD returned e/mail to me the didnt mention or acknowledge the fact that I want to speak with service rep.. so thats my story...there are of lot of people being ripped off by dealers who know that some of their work could cause future problems of which they may be involved in repairing....check it out.I think FORD or the ford dealer in sarasota should come clean about this practice, and should agree to help pay for the expense that i feel they caused.

- inputx, Sarasota, FL, US