Scratched Brushed Chrome Dash Panels
 

Dealers and body shops/service centers suck.

Took my car in for the passenger side airbag recall and they scratched the brushed chrome dash panels. I dreaded this day because it always seems like any time I take my car in they break or hack something. I pulled the service rep out to look at it and of course the first thing he says? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? You guessed it! “I don’t see anything wrong.” Eventually he agreed it was scratched and of course the manager is off until Monday. I’ll be calling them the minute they open if he doesn’t call me first thing as promised.

Anyway, I’m hoping I can replace them myself because they were mint before this and not a scratch. Is that possible or is the air bag a concern popping these off?


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...c31a0125a.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...ecbbb2dd7.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...cb67022f6.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...f4532acb8.jpeg





Thanks for any info!

Had mine done a few months ago and didn't see any scratches. I just went out and looked again with a flashlight looking for any damage. Not one scratch, anywhere. Sad to see all the damage your dealer did to your Mustang. Does your dealer hire 'summer help', high school kids for summer jobs? If not, your dealer are a bunch of dumbasses :(

Agreed! They don’t care about their work. The more I think about it and while I’m waiting for Monday the more pissed off im getting.

Your dealer are a bunch of butchers. Hope you get this solved out. Don't get too mad and use diplomacy until they get snarky.

‘Thanks but I’m willing to bet the manager will say we don’t know if they were there before we worked on it, or they were always there. I’m hoping I’m wrong. The part is about $200 as far as I can tell and I still don’t know if I can just pop off and replace.

I asked my service manager if I should remove my little Running Pony that I put on there back in 2011. He told me no, they just separate the panel without removing it. This picture was taken a few minutes ago
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...73969f16d1.jpg

I’m not sure I understand. Meaning that it never comes off the dash? Videos I’ve watched about replacing the airbag show that piece coming out. It looks like simple clips hold it in place. I just want to know if it can be pulled off from the front using some plastic tools or is it connected to the airbag and it needs special attention to be replaced.

All this for what should’ve been a simple recall replacement.

Just venting because I’m at the explosion point...

I waited until 9:30 for a call and of course I didn’t get one. So I call and I’m told the “manager” won’t be in until 10:30 or 11:00 and I’ll get a call soon. 3:00 pm and no call so I call again and I’m told the “manager’” had to leave and that he’d discuss it tomorrow. I’ll get a call in the morning...riiiiiiiiight.

So I’m sure I’ll get the runaround tomorrow and I’ll have to decide on the next move. I hope I’m wrong but I knew today would turn out as it did so....

That's bad, keep us posted on what happens....

Thanks! Today I'll wait until just before 5 pm to make a call if they don't call first. Updates coming...If not a good response I'm gonna rat out the dealership on here and social media.

So around 11 am I got a call. I was told either way they’ll take care of it (not sure what that means yet), but first wanted to put in a claim with Ford since it happened on a recall install. I should know by tomorrow where I stand.

Sounds like they are working with you on it. Hope everything works out for you

Just wanted to post that the dealer came through and the part came in today. Next Friday it gets installed and I told them that I’ll be waiting for it.

:nice:

Great news! Sounds like the dealer did the right thing!

They are and it’s refreshing. Hopefully the install will go smoothly.

But...

Yesterday I go out for a cars and coffee cruise with a couple of buddies and it was a great time on the road with the top down even though it was so hot it was hard to breath sometimes. So I get home and I asked my brother to swap out my other car in the driveway so I can pull in and be the first one in like I usually park my Mustang. Unfortunately I didn’t realize that he parked within a hair of the back of my car. I decided that I needed to back up a bit and you can guess what happened…I’m the only one to blame for this but who parks a car within an inch or less of its life unless you have to...it was an open driveway.

Anyway I created a couple of insanely minor indents from the license plate letters. It looks like two tiny U letters. Any chance that they can be removed or less and because they’re so minor? I’m beginning my search now on how to remedy this if I can.

I knew when I got out in the road it was going to be one of those days! Sigh Mustang life is never easy. :)

I give up!!
 

This morning I go to the dealer to have the piece replaced and they take me right in. So far so good! About an hour later they’re done. Awesome! Get in the car and check it out and I see that it looks like junk. Oh crap!...Wait...that’s the plastic covering to protect it. Oh good that means it’s factory fresh! I peel it off and not one scratch. Nice! Then I notice two dents and the right side is not flush by a long shot. The dents are soft like wavy or pushed in. Not a crease. So it basically looks like garbage compared to my original panel.

New plan. Spend the $200 and learn to do it myself. Screw dealers! They’re the enemy and I’m not taking my car again unless I can be in the work area watching them.

So a recall is gonna cost $200. Nice!

Contact Ford Customer Service before spending $200.

Thanks. I’ll give that a try.

Hard to see here, but figured I’d post pic anyway.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/themust...e4baa74c6.jpeg