When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
JD must be in bed with Ford. The labor shortage started way before the pandemic and it's due to Ford's SLTS aka Service Labor Time Standards, aka warranty pay. When they pay you 8 hours to do 24 hrs worth of work, it's time to leave. The exodus began back in the 80's I'm told, the pandemic just amplified the issue. I was with Ford from 93-2004 when I had enough of bs pay and left.
The service at my dealer have been slipping over the past 10+ years. It was their service department that pulled me away from the dealer that I used in the past and now it's the service department that's going to push me away.
The Service Department is the most profitable part of any dealership. If run properly it will thrive...if not...the dealership will struggle. It's a well known fact that almost everybody goes back for the free work...but...the majority of customers will go elsewhere when they have to pay. The local Ford dealership which is mated with a Toyota dealership has a poor reputation for service. The local independent mechanics are all thriving.
I ran into similar issues with dealership communication and tracking updates. What helped us at work was using tools that made everything more visual and easier to explain to customers. We started using https://acupowererp.com/products/3d-...tica-cloud-erp and it really cut down on confusion. People could see exactly what was happening instead of just being told. Something like that in dealerships could seriously improve the service side.
Last edited by Levant0s; Dec 22, 2025 at 06:49 AM.
Our local Ford place was ok until a big chain company took over. Now it's awful. Wanted 1500 bucks to do a software update on my 21. Then screwed up the miles and it says it has 165k miles (has 27k) on car fax. Then won't fix that until "another ticket is open"
At my shop I hear nothing but terrible things about them. But then I called another local one and the service adv was going to call me back. Been 2 months. No call.
I'm pulling the engine on a 2018 escape right now. I have the ford place quote on it....17k dollars. I wouldn't give 17k for it WITH a new engine. Lol
Id agree. Ford dealerships around here, get nothing but bad reviews. They really are terrible. Their oldest techs are about 19. Lol. And the dishonesty is crazy. They are getting hard to support.
my local dealer is owned by a friend.
the service writers are all very good, and dont try to pull a fast one over on you.
they even go as far as to do their best to get repairs done under warranty if you are very close to mileage.
my explorer was 60k miles. at 60,500 the water pump went. and the exhaust was slightly cracked and leaking when cold.
$6,400 and change for repair, all covered by warranty. so i had them do a trans service while they had it.
cost me $350 for a water pump, new manifold back exhaust, and trans service.
