Anyone know what the lemon law buyback process is like?

[SunnySunshine]

We bought the vehicle (2024 Ford Expedition Platinum Max) in April 2024. Very frequently the right mirror would not unfold and my parents and I won't notice it until we actually need to use it. It's very dangerous. The vehicle has been "repaired" 4 times now and it continues happening. My father has filed a case with Ford for buyback. Has anyone been through the process before? We're hoping they can trade us up to a 2025 model. We're based in the SF Bay Area.

Edit 2 May 2025: Update: Ford approved the buyback and gave us 3 options. We have 1 month to choose which one.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

We bought the vehicle (2024 Ford Expedition Platinum Max) in April 2024. Very frequently the right mirror would not unfold and my parents and I won't notice it until we actually need to use it. It's very dangerous. The vehicle has been "repaired" 4 times now and it continues happening. My father has filed a case with Ford for buyback. Has anyone been through the process before? We're hoping they can trade us up to a 2025 model. We're based in the SF Bay Area.

I have undergone two separate buybacks (repurchases) - but both with GM - Chevrolet.

Each state’s lemon law is different. I do not live in California but here is a link to their law: https://www.dca.ca.gov/acp/pdf_files/lemonlaw_qa.pdf

My state has a very strict and consumer friendly vehicle lemon law.

In the first case, I filed for binding arbitration and present the case myself via the BBB Autoline Program (required then in my state). I won and chose a full refund.

In the second case, I had it handled by an attorney as my state strengthened the lemon law to include reasonable attorney fees, paid by the manufacturer. I won and chose a new car.

It has been my experience that an auto manufacturer will work to delay and distract you, and offer you things such as free maintenance or an extended service plan to avoid a buyback. They do not want to get stuck with a newer vehicle that has a branded title.

My state lemon law allows the consumer to obtain a full refund or a replacement vehicle - at the consumer’s choice (if the vehicle is determined to be a lemon, according to the state guidelines).

Let us know what happens with Ford. You and your parents may want to review the California lemon law and determine if you qualify. There are time limits and manufacturers often try to delay and drag-out the process, so the vehicle won’t qualify.

 

[VCFP153]

A buyback over a mirror? Really?

 

[SunnySunshine]

A buyback over a mirror? Really?

It's dangerous. A couple times we were zipper merging when we found out the mirror isn't open. Not only can we not see if there is a vehicle behind us, but it also stops the blind spot monitor from being able to alert you. Could kill sometime. This being an intermittent problem makes it worse since you're not trained to check if it's open every time.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but not checking your mirrors before putting the vehicle in motion sounds like an operator issue for the most part....

Granted, if the mirrors are supposed to unfold automatically and they don't, yes that is a small issue that should be relatively easy to diagnose & correct, but I can't really see a buyback happening just for that..however, stranger things have happened...

Mine are not automatic, but I manually fold mine in just to make it less likely for someone to hit them and to make parking in tight spaces easier, but even the few times when I don't fold them, I trained myself long ago to ALWAYS check them before moving, because NOT doing so IS dangerous, not only for me but for my vehicle too...

Anyways, many years ago, I went through the lemon buyback process twice (in NC & SC), once with GM and once with Hyunadie, and I won both times because:

A) The issues were major and were not corrected after 3 tries at the dealers, of which I had ALL documentation to support
B) I filed the cases within the time frames set under the lemon laws
C) I had my attorney contact the mfgr on my behalf after trying to resolve the issues myself...

Back then, both state's Lemon laws were pretty consumer-friendly, so there's that too

So good luck !

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

It's dangerous. A couple times we were zipper merging when we found out the mirror isn't open. Not only can we not see if there is a vehicle behind us, but it also stops the blind spot monitor from being able to alert you. Could kill sometime. This being an intermittent problem makes it worse since you're not trained to check if it's open every time.

And an authorized Ford dealer made four unsuccessful attempts to repair this defect.

 

[Trainmaster]

In New York, at least, the right mirror is not a safety item nor is it required. You would not get safety-related relief in New York for a right mirror.

 

[SunnySunshine]

Granted, if the mirrors are supposed to unfold automatically and they don't, yes that is a small issue that should be relatively easy to diagnose & correct, but I can't really see a buyback happening just for that..however, stranger things have happened...

Ford dealerships (we went to 2) already attempted to fix it 4 times. They can't. It continues happening. The annoying thing is this only happens around 1 out of 8 times we start the engine. They've reflashed the firmware of the controller inside, replaced the innards, replaced our battery on one of the fixes, and not sure what else they did (since my dad was the one handling all this), but it continues.

 

[SunnySunshine]

And an authorized Ford dealer made four unsuccessful attempts to repair this defect.

It's been 4 repairs at 2 separate Ford dealerships. It's not fixed. They've reflashed the controller inside, swapped the innards of the mirror, swapped our battery, and I can't remember what the last fix they tried was since my dad is handling all this. I get it's a hard problem to fix when it only happens every 1 out of 8 engine starts. We've shown them videos and photos of this happening, however they can't seem to produce the issue at the dealership.

 

[SilverStealth]

We are having the same issue but much less frequent. My wife swears it only happens after I slam the front passenger door when she's driving. I can't reproduce it consistently.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

And an authorized Ford dealer made four unsuccessful attempts to repair this defect.

That, my friends, is the textbook definition of a "LEMON", but most states that I have lived in (15 of the 52) use 3 unsuccessful repairs as the limit AFAIK....

So the question remains is whether or not FoMoCo will do anything about it or assist you in getting it fixed....cause again, I just don't see them doing a buyback just for the mirror by itself....

 

[SunnySunshine]

That, my friends, is the textbook definition of a "LEMON", but most states that I have lived in (15 of the 52) use 3 unsuccessful repairs as the limit AFAIK....

So the question remains is whether or not FoMoCo will do anything about it or assist you in getting it fixed....cause again, I just don't see them doing a buyback just for the mirror by itself....

So far they told my dad to gather the paperwork and fill out a form to initiate the buyback process.

 

[VCFP153]

It's dangerous. A couple times we were zipper merging when we found out the mirror isn't open. Not only can we not see if there is a vehicle behind us, but it also stops the blind spot monitor from being able to alert you. Could kill sometime. This being an intermittent problem makes it worse since you're not trained to check if it's open every time.

If that "could kill sometime," so could about everything else.

 

[jjscsix]

It's dangerous. A couple times we were zipper merging when we found out the mirror isn't open. Not only can we not see if there is a vehicle behind us, but it also stops the blind spot monitor from being able to alert you. Could kill sometime. This being an intermittent problem makes it worse since you're not trained to check if it's open every time.

Our 2023 does that occasionally, like once every couple of months. I always notice it quickly and just push the button to retract them in the push it again and they both fold out.

No way do I agree it is dangerous. If you look and don’t see then don’t change lanes. It might surprise you that dual mirrors came into vogue in the 70s. Before that most cars did not have right hand mirrors. Just use the interior mirror and turn your head to the right and look.

That is not to say that Ford should not fix it though. They should.

 

[SunnySunshine]

Our 2023 does that occasionally, like once every couple of months. I always notice it quickly and just push the button to retract them in the push it again and they both fold out.

No way do I agree it is dangerous. If you look and don’t see then don’t change lanes. It might surprise you that dual mirrors came into vogue in the 70s. Before that most cars did not have right hand mirrors. Just use the interior mirror and turn your head to the right and look.

That is not to say that Ford should not fix it though. They should.

We live in the SF Bay Area, a densely populated area, so these mirrors are pretty much required. Sometimes we noticed it during a zipper merge where the left lane is merging to the right. For us it doesn't open around 1 out of 8 engine starts, and they can't reproduce it at the dealership. We've shown them video and photo evidence.

 

[MINNFORDGUY]

I have a 2024 Max, it had triple threat failures (Blind spot, Parking assist, collision assist followed by a front camera fault) starting 4 days after purchase. System will reset with a complete shut down, for ~ 200-300 miles after that it fails and will not reset until the dealer clears the IPMA. The bigger issue is that failure kills cruise and auto lights plus 10th gear at times. It has been into the dealer 8 times in the 7 months I have owned it. Dealer suggested Ford buy back. Received two offers cash after fix to shut up and go away, or a take back where the take back offer was less than my trade in value. Ford has issued three SSMs saying the fix will happen Q1 of 2025, Feb 2025, April 2025, the first was issued prior to my purchase of this new car. Lemon law lawyers told me Ford was following the Lemon law rules, I simply wanted my money back, instead stuck with a 10k loss. It doesn’t seem fair, or right on multiple fronts. Promising a fix that never happens is a inadequate plan along with selling VINs with known issues (The first SSM says to check the VIN and codes if it fits tell the customer a fix will happen Q1 2025) The sad thing is this car fits my needs really well, but 12k miles with no cruise and non functional safety systems and bait and switch fix dates says perhaps my Ford partnership needs to end. Check those SSMs prior to purchase, I wish I would have..

 

[Dice Roll]

I would think given the good faith effort the dealer has made and not able to repair, and your willingness to stay with their product, ford would gladly make this right if you can get high enough in the company. I’ve dealt with many issues with large companies over the years and lower rung people tend to not want to be soft, for whatever reason. Once you drill into the bureaucracy, somebody along the way will listen to a reasonable person laying out the matter and they don’t tarry on what is a small thing for a mega corp.

All that to say I can’t see ford wanting a lemon law buyback on the books when they just as well need this unit at some engineering center for diagnosis and maybe a tech bulletin. Much better to get that process rolling and save face by putting you in an identical 25. I’d point out that others say they have experienced this and this is an opportunity to solve it.

 

[SunnySunshine]

Update: Ford approved the buyback and gave us 3 options. We have 1 month to choose which one.

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Update: Ford approved the buyback and gave us 3 options. We have 1 month to choose which one.

Cool deal, please let us know what you end up doing

 

[LanceExp2025]

Update: Ford approved the buyback and gave us 3 options. We have 1 month to choose which one.

Hey SunnySunshine:

That is a GOOD & Positive thing! Congratulations! What are the 3 Options that Ford offered you? Not prying into your personal affairs, just wanting to know if Ford is HONORABLE or not? Don't let these Ford reps deter you from the buy-back. You have given them adequate opportunities to make it right but, THEY HAVE FAILED.

I would suspect that your problem is wiring related (partially broken wire where the RH door wire loom goes from the body into the door [at the RH door hinge] or, it could be a bad computer). Either way, there are diagnostic tools to determine exactly where & what the problem is but that process is time consuming thus, most dealers won't spend the time to do their job right. (a wiring loom change is also very costly due to major disassembly & reassembly labor of the door, dash and related other items in the way)

I used to do some major Ford wiring loom change-outs in the late 60's thru early 80's (when wiring was still super simple) and an engine compartment to dash wiring loom harness change-out was an easy 40 Hour job (1 week/ 8 hrs. per day). One 1969 Mercury Park Lane wire harness change-out took me 64 hours to complete because of all of its complexities. In those days, there were NO Computers, just switches, relays and momentary contacts. Plus, all the work was on the floor, on your back reaching into very tight spaces. NOT fun!

We bought a 2024 Expedition MAX Limited this February 2025 and everything, so far, is working perfectly. Like you, we love this Expy car but we only have just over 1000 miles on it now. The very best of luck with your buy-back, Lance