I am extremely disappointed with Maclin Ford and the - SarahYYC
I am extremely disappointed with Maclin Ford and the false sense of security provided through the Ford Maintenance Plan and their service department.
When I purchased my 2022 Bronco brand new, I paid extra for the Ford Maintenance Plan so my vehicle would be properly maintained and inspected, including multipoint inspections and identification of alignment, suspension, or safety issues before they became serious problems.
I have never missed a maintenance interval. The vehicle has 59,600 km, is primarily highway driven, garage kept, and extremely well maintained. This all occurred approximately 400 km before my warranty expired.
Maclin Ford installed the lift kit before selling me the vehicle. I purchased it brand new, already modified by them. I did not install or modify anything myself.
At my most recent maintenance visit at Maclin Ford, I drove an hour each way and mentioned a steering wheel vibration that had existed for over a year. I was told it would cost almost $200 just to inspect it, so I declined. No possible cause was identified or suggested.
When I picked up the vehicle, I was told my front tires were cupping and that I needed an alignment. This was never communicated while they had the vehicle all day. I specifically asked whether it was serious and whether it was safe to drive home. I was told it was safe and that the alignment could wait. Based on that representation, I drove home.
The next day, less than 24 hours later, I brought the vehicle to another Ford dealership closer to my home. They immediately observed how severely toed in the tires were and performed an alignment, rotation, and balance. Shortly after leaving that dealership, while driving home, the vehicle became unstable during a lane change and I ended up in the ditch.
Further inspection revealed the lift kit Maclin Ford installed had failed. The weld had failed, components were moving, and the lift kit had to be cut off and completely replaced. Suspension components were also found to be worn and required replacement. Two tires were too damaged to remain in service. To maintain proper handling and safe operation, all four tires had to be replaced as a matched set.
My out of pocket cost was approximately $3,000.
When I raised this with Maclin Ford, the service manager was dismissive and spoke to me in a condescending manner, as though I did not understand my own vehicle or the seriousness of the situation. I had already reviewed the findings with experienced mechanics, including a journeyman mechanic and a former Ford mechanic, both of whom confirmed these issues should have been identified.
The lift kit was referred to as aftermarket, despite the fact that Maclin Ford installed it before selling the vehicle as new.
How were a failed lift kit weld and worn suspension components not identified during scheduled inspections, including the inspection performed less than 24 hours earlier? The only issue raised was that I needed an alignment. No mention was made of suspension wear or lift kit failure, despite defects severe enough to require immediate replacement.
These issues did not develop overnight. They progressed over time and should have been identified during routine maintenance and inspections.
Had these issues been properly identified earlier, they could have been addressed through minor repairs rather than requiring complete component replacements and significant out of pocket costs.
This experience has cost me thousands of dollars and completely eroded my confidence in Maclin Ford and probably Ford as a whole at this point. Definitely won't be buying my commuter vehicle there in the coming months.
Read More
Dealer Reviews
Cars for Sale
Dealer Log In