I think we have one. Transmission falls out at 5,000 miles. Transmission replaced only to be replaced by bad engine codes- Four of them, 3 Ford doesn't even know what they mean,but one means its unsafe to drive.

I don't want a POS car- so if it IS a lemon(and I think it is) how do I get a NON lemon mustang?

 

It does sound like you have one. Be firm on your requests and take it beyond the dealer if you need to. My friend just got ALL of his money back on his SRT10 because the dealer and Chrysler rep from the factory couldn't fix a vibration. Truck was 10 months old.

 

It varies from state to state but here in Maine you have to have had 3 of the same issue with the car. So in oyur case the tranny has to crap out 3 times. You have to allow the dealer the 3 times to fix it and then if that doesnt work I believe they get one more try....the auto manufacturer...at a different dealer. I think this is to eliminate a shoddy dealer service department. You would think the auto manufacturer would do that but such is the world we live in nowadays. I would highly advise you to contact your state agency that handles these issues and they can guide you better. GL and keep us updated

 

http://www.lemonlawamerica.com/state_laws/alabama.htm

http://www.ago.state.al.us/consumer_law.cfm

 

Hopefully they can find the problem. Has the dealer contacted their engineering rep? I kind of suprised they don't know what the codes are

 

I got no clue.
I went there to get my good sunglasses out of the car, and they told me some bs about the car was experiencing a "wiring issue" and they are trying to fix it.
Brian is ****ed off. Brand new car, already broke.
And we can't understand, because mine is 2 years old with 35k and other than a crappy shaker or 3, has had no problems whatsoever.

 

Sounds like the trouble codes could be the after effects of the transmission being replaced and the techs doing a sloppy job; perhaps they disconnected sensors or accidently broke wiring while removing/installing the transmission.

My wife and I had a Subaru that we had taken in to have the intake manifold gaskets replaced. When we got it back, the intrument panel and gauges didn't work. They didn't plug all the wiring harnesses back in.

 

Vermillion, exactly. This is a classic case of an F'ed up trans replacement process. The only other thing I can think of is a bad sensor in the new trans throwing codes. Much MUCH less likely than the install error.

We all know the expertise employed at the blue oval service shops.

 

They reconnected the wires all wrong and not at all
Ralph is back home now.

 

Knew it

 

Yeah Ralph! Bet you're happy, April, huh?

But on the lemon issue, they're right - it has to be three attempts to fix the SAME defective part or system. Not just three repairs in gneral. And the defective part/system also has to be "important" (don't know the exact wording), or you'd have a case to sell it back over your Shaker.

 

Tell me about lemons, my moms Grand Caravan was officially a lemon, so she bought a Bowtie Suburban
http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...t=DSCN2529.flv

 

Me Happy? I was happy all along, Ellie is in perfect condition Wait, Technically, doesn't that make her a Lemon? Shaker broke 3 times? Well she is yellow....

I am actually just happy I wasn't driving it when the transmission fell out. Brian would have blamed me till Christmas.

The downside to it all- after 3 months, the new car smell got killed- it smells like transmission fluid in there now.

 

From previous, personal experience, here in TN it's 5 times or if the car is out of commission for 30 days for the same problem. Or is the car is unsafe to drive. And they have the option for a 6th try. After that anything goes. But as already stated, it varies from state to state.

Do a search on Alabama's state lemon law online & print it out. I even suggest starting a folder to keep all of the paperwork. I did that with my 03 & my mom even called & talked to a lawyer. Good thing she did because Ford tried to play her when she asked about it. They told her that it had to be something major. When she told them she had talked to a lawyer they said that "most lawyers aren't up to date on the lemon law". Her replay "well my lawyer is also a judge", that shut them up & got the ball moving.

Also. Keep calling the Ford customer service line to have your complaints documented. They start a record when you call & keep using it for every phone call. I somehow had like 7 records in their system.

Also, keep all reciepts from the dealer whenever Ralph is in for service. And if all you want is a new car then request that customer service send you the paperwork. I did all of this & wrote them a nice little letterthat I sent with the paperwork & approx 30 days later I got the call from MI, saying that they had been authorized to replace my car with a brand new one.

They matched MSRP prices, we didn't pay anymore except for the difference in the MSRP's & taxes on the difference (lil less than 1500). And I got an even sweeter deal. Instead of the 04 that I was told I would have to get, the gm at the dealership got the deal extended so I could order the 05. That's how I found this site, doing a yahoo search on the 05.

Anyway. Good luck to you & Brian. And I hope that Ralph is fixed for good. If not sit on them girl. Don't let them steam roll the problem.

 

Some, not all......

 

I am quite happy with my service department......
Always treated my car well, and Ralph came back in working condition.

 

I can't believe no one has said this yet so I am force to to do it. Lemons are made by lemon trees! I only know this because we actually had a lemon tree in our backyard when I was a kid in Miami.

 

And Pinapples don't grow on trees!( I didn't know this till I went to Hawaii, now I have two growing out in my garden).

I think Ralph is fine now- just like new still, only the new car smell died and was replaced by the stench of transmission fluid).
I offered ellie up for Brians use while Ralph was down, but he still won't let me drive his car.

 

Ralph is a definite POS.

NOW its got the check engine light back on, and the engine/transmission is making a popping noise.

I fail to understand how my car with 36,993 miles on it has NEVER had a problem outside of a TSB, but his car is 3 months old today and just hit 8,000 miles and this will be stay #3 in the car hospital.

 

If you think Ralph Has a problem then you should look at what I have been going through for the past 5 months.

1st trip add Techron®
2nd trip replace tank per TSB and fuel sending unit
3rd trip add Techron®
4th trip open circuit form fuel sending unit to gage cluster
5th trip (to different mechanic) replace sending unit
Problem found Ford technician did not install sending unit and sending unit hanging in tank with springs at bottom of tank
6th trip I have had my fuel sending units replaced with 2007 version, the engine management module has been manually reprogrammed. Detroit engineering has been contacted and my car is still in the dealer as we speak. It has been there since Monday of this week. They also disconnected my after market alarm system to ensure that it was not feeding back to the smart junction box and creating a problem.(It was ruled out) They checked the gauge cluster and monitor the fuel level as it was filling and after doing all that, still no resolution.
7th trip still in shop with no resolution



For this month she has been at home a total of TWO(2) days.