DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 206 – Robert F. from Chicago, IL
Dear Suzanne,
I’ve always trusted my dealer with my vehicle, but after this nightmare, I never will again. Ever taken your car in for a simple fix, only to leave with a bigger problem? That’s exactly what happened when I brought my 2023 Ford Bronco to a Ford-authorized dealership for a flat tire repair.
What should’ve been a quick, routine service turned into a frustrating ordeal involving store managers, empty excuses, and an outrageous repair bill. Instead of fixing the issue, they covered up the damage, forcing me to fight for every bit of accountability. Even then, they refused to admit their fault.
If you think customer loyalty guarantees good service, think again.
A Simple Flat Tire Fix Gone Wrong
That morning, I found my tire flat at 16,000 miles and dropped it off at the dealership. Two hours later, I got a call—it was ready. Great! But when I arrived, I saw my Bronco still sitting in the bay. A tech was behind the wheel, looking confused.
Inside, as I paid, he admitted he couldn’t figure out how to put my car in reverse. That alone set off alarms in my head, but I brushed it off. Then, as I opened my door, I heard a loud “POP!” A noise that wasn’t there before.
I froze. I opened and closed the door again—same sound. I turned to the dealer. “What the heck was that?”
His response? A blank stare and, “I don’t know, but when I pulled it in, it wasn’t doing that.”
They promised to have a technician check it out Monday. I left with a written note confirming the door issue had appeared after they handled my car.
The Runaround Begins
That night, the service manager called, trying to explain it away. I shut that down fast. I wasn’t interested in excuses—I wanted my door fixed. I also told him I wanted a professional body shop to handle it.
Oh, and by the way? My tire was flat again—not even 24 hours after their “repair.”
First thing Monday, I was back at the dealership. The mechanic took one look at the door, saw it was misaligned, and casually sprayed grease on the hinge. Since when does grease fix a bent door?
I also pointed out a suspicious mark right at the height of their lift contact pad. The mechanic insisted Ford wasn’t “that kind of company” and assured me they’d take good care of me. At this point, I had zero faith in that.
Delay Equals Denial
A few days later, the store manager left me a voicemail claiming the hinge issue was a preexisting condition. How convenient. According to him, my hinge already had some rust, and it just happened to fail while they had my car. Sure.
I pushed back, explaining my door wasn’t just misaligned—it was bent. His response? A casual, “It was bound to fail sooner or later.” So much for Ford taking care of its customers.
A Door That Won’t Stay Closed
After weeks of getting nowhere, I took the Bronco home, hoping the issue wouldn’t get worse. It did. One evening, parked on a slight incline, I shut the door as usual, but instead of latching, it bounced back open.
Worried, I took the SUV to another Ford dealership. Their tech realigned the door, and I thought that was the end of it. A week later, it was back—this time with a rattling noise while driving. Then, one morning on the freeway, the door popped open on its own, triggering an alert on my dashboard. My heart was pounding as I grabbed the wheel and pulled the door shut at highway speed. If that had happened at 65 mph, I don’t even want to think about it.
The Final Straw
I took the Bronco back three more times. The second visit? They replaced the hinges. The third? They admitted the fender and door were misaligned from the factory. But the problem never went away.
By the fourth visit, the dealership finally admitted they couldn’t fix it without major structural work—which they refused to cover under warranty.
At this point, it’s clear I bought a lemon. My question is, do I have a valid case for a lawsuit against the manufacturer? And if I do, can I hire an attorney on a contingency basis, paying only after I win? Because right now, I can’t afford legal fees upfront.
I need answers, Suzanne. What do you say?
Robert F.
Chicago, IL
Repeated Repairs, No Fix? Your 2023 Ford Bronco May Qualify as a Lemon
Dear Robert,
I can feel your frustration, and honestly, I don’t blame you one bit. You trusted the dealership to handle a simple tire repair, and instead, they left you with a bent door, a safety hazard, and a whole lot of excuses. No one should have to fight this hard just to get a problem fixed—especially on a new vehicle still under warranty. I understand why you’re angry, and I want to help you figure out what you can do next.
Based on what you’ve described, your 2023 Ford Bronco may qualify as a lemon under Illinois law, but let’s go through the details to see where you stand. Below, I’ll answer your questions and explain your options.
Do I have a valid case for a lawsuit against the manufacturer?
Yes, you might. Illinois Lemon Law covers new vehicles with serious defects that impair use, safety, or value—which your Bronco’s door issue clearly does. The law applies if the defect happens within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles (whichever comes first), and the manufacturer has had at least four repair attempts OR the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more days.
Since you’ve taken your Bronco in multiple times, and the dealership admits the door issue requires major structural work, you may qualify. But Illinois Lemon Law has strict rules on how claims are handled, so the first step is consulting with an experienced lemon law attorney to review your case.
Can I hire an attorney on a contingency basis?
Yes, and this is something I highly recommend. Most lemon law attorneys don’t charge upfront fees because the law requires the manufacturer to cover legal costs if you win. This means you can get expert help without paying out of pocket. A good attorney will handle the legal process for you, deal with Ford directly, and push for the best outcome—whether that’s a refund, replacement, or cash compensation.
What’s my next move?
Here’s what I suggest:
- Gather all your repair records—every invoice, work order, and dealership note about your door issue and tire problem.
- Write down everything—dates of repair visits, names of service advisors, and any conversations you’ve had.
- Contact a lemon law attorney ASAP. A quick consultation will tell you exactly where you stand and what to do next.
Godfrey, you’ve been patient long enough. You deserve a safe, fully functional vehicle—not one that risks popping open on the freeway. The good news is, you have rights, and you don’t have to fight this alone. I strongly encourage you to reach out to an attorney and take action. The sooner you do, the sooner you can put this mess behind you.
Best of luck,
Suzanne
Editor’s Note: The letter above has been edited for clarity, and personally identifiable details like names and actual locations have been changed to protect the letter sender’s privacy.
Resolve Your 2023 Ford Bronco Lemon Car Issues Quickly!
Dear reader, are your vehicle problems ruining your life? Confused about what legal route to take? We’re here to help! Find information about Texas’ lemon law protections here, fill out the form on this page, or give us a call at (833) 743-1990 to discuss your situation with someone who understands how frustrating it can be to have a lemon car, and what to do about it.
DEAR SUZANNE is a weekly column written by Suzanne Henderson and published in LemonLawyers.ORG. If you have a defective lemon vehicle and have questions about Illinois Lemon Law or how to file a claim, please write to [email protected]. While not guaranteed, we will try to feature your letter in this column to provide you the answers you need, as well as enlighten other consumers who may have lemon problems similar to yours.
Disclaimer: Suzanne Henderson is not a lawyer and the points discussed here are intended for general information and reference purposes only and not to be construed as legal advice. Please consult a Illinois Lemon Law Attorney to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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Featured Images:
- 2023 Ford Bronco ©MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
