DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 216 – From Ken M. from Columbia, MD
Dear Suzanne,
Owning a car is supposed to make life easier, right? Well, that hasn’t been my wife’s experience—at least not lately. It’s not just that things keep going wrong, but they seem to go wrong in the most ridiculous ways. One problem after another pops up, and the so-called professionals who are supposed to fix them only make things worse.
The Oil Change That Changed Everything
My wife’s 2023 Ford Edge went from perfectly fine to completely destroyed—all because a shop used the wrong oil for months. Ever since we bought this car, we’ve taken it to the dealer for regular oil changes. Since they’re Ford-certified, we trusted them. They had always done the job right—or so we thought.
Recently, while on a trip, we couldn’t go to our usual Ford dealership, so we used another authorized one nearby. That’s when we learned things had gone terribly wrong. For the past year, our dealership had been using the wrong oil. When we confronted them, they admitted it. The manager casually told us not to worry—they would first empty the oil pan and then switch to the proper synthetic oil. When we didn’t seem convinced, they assured us that if anything went wrong, they would cover it.
Funny enough, things went wrong almost immediately.
The Immediate Aftermath
As my wife left the shop, the Edge started spewing white smoke from the exhaust. She called me, and I met her halfway. When I took it for a spin, I could tell something was off. I called the dealership, and they reassured me it was probably due to a fuel additive. They suggested I top it off and drive it for a bit to see if it improved.
Within a few miles, the car started misfiring, and the check engine light came on. These were new problems that hadn’t existed before the oil change.
Engine Seized Up
The next morning, we had planned to go shopping, but I had to take the car back to the dealership instead. That’s when they realized they had forgotten to screw on the back of the oil drip pan—it had been hanging loose the entire time.
Frustrated, we left the shop. Within days, the engine completely seized up, and the car had to be towed to Ford—again. There, they discovered there was no oil in the engine. What little oil had been in there was now all over the engine compartment.
When I called the dealership, they initially seemed cooperative. “This is why we have insurance. We’ll cover it,” they said. But later, their claim advisor denied the claim, blaming a supposedly leaking valve.
Even after the car was repaired, we didn’t trust it. My wife started using public transportation to avoid risking catastrophic engine damage again.
Weird Spinning Noise
You’d think things were bad enough, but the Ford wasn’t done with us. Since I didn’t want the car to sit unused, I took it for occasional short drives.
On one of those drives, the engine died on the highway—possibly because of the previous issue—and I lost control. I hit a curb pulling over, damaging the back left wheel. The car was towed to the dealership and spent a month and a half in the shop while they replaced the wheel disc, rim, suspension, and other components.
When I finally got the car back, I noticed a weird spinning noise from the back left wheel. I immediately took it back to the shop, where the mechanic said it was a faulty rear differential—something they should have caught during the initial repair. Instead of fixing it right away, they told me it would take three weeks to get the parts. Meanwhile, they assured me the car was fine to drive.
From Bad to Worse
At first, the noise happened occasionally. Within a week, it became constant. Another call to the mechanic, another “It’s still fine to drive.”
Another week later, the sound worsened. Then, one day, it stopped. I thought I was finally free. But when I put the car into drive, a new sound emerged—an unbearable high-pitched squealing.
That was the final straw. I dumped the car at the dealership and left. I don’t understand how so many things can go wrong, even after inspections and supposed expert repairs. Why did the dealer promise to fix it and then deny responsibility?
What Are My Options?
Now, I’m left wondering: How can I hold the dealer accountable? How do I fight this? Will I need a lawyer? Should I use the Lemon Law or wait for a class-action lawsuit? I feel like I’m out of options and need answers.
Ken M. from Columbia, MD
Maryland Lemon Law Exists for Situations Like Yours—Your 2023 Ford Edge Might Qualify
Dear Ken,
From what you’ve described, the dealer made multiple mistakes that led to your engine failure. Using the wrong oil for an entire year was bad enough, but failing to properly secure the oil pan drain plug? That’s outright negligence. And when your engine seized, they tried to shift the blame instead of taking responsibility. Sadly, this kind of behavior is all too common with irresponsible dealerships.
I know this has been an exhausting and frustrating experience for you and your wife. No one should have to go through this, especially when you did everything right—taking your car to an authorized dealership and trusting their so-called expertise. The good news is that Maryland’s Lemon Law and other consumer protection laws could give you options to fight back. Let’s go over your questions one by one.
How Can I Hold the Dealer Accountable?
Under Maryland’s Lemon Law, a car dealership or manufacturer must repair a vehicle’s defect within a reasonable number of attempts. If they fail to fix it, they may be required to replace the vehicle or refund your money. In your case, the dealership’s negligence directly led to your engine failure, and their refusal to honor their promise to fix it makes them legally responsible.
Aside from the Lemon Law, you may also have a case under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act. The dealership misled you when they assured you they would take care of the problem, only to later deny the claim. That could be considered deceptive business practices, which the law prohibits.
How Do I Fight This?
The Maryland Lemon Law is likely your best bet. A class-action lawsuit could take years, and there’s no guarantee you’d get much from it. The Lemon Law is designed to help individual car owners like you get a resolution much faster.
However, your case may not be a perfect fit for the Lemon Law if your car is outside the coverage period. The law applies to new vehicles within 24 months or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. If your car is still within this window, you have a strong case. If not, you still have other legal options, such as filing a breach of warranty claim or taking legal action under consumer protection laws.
Will I Need a Lawyer?
Yes, I strongly recommend speaking with a lemon law attorney. Dealerships and manufacturers rarely make things easy for consumers, and they count on people giving up. An attorney can push back, making sure they don’t get away with their negligence.
Maryland’s Lemon Law even allows you to recover attorney’s fees if you win, which means legal help might not cost you anything out of pocket. Having a lawyer on your side will also make the dealership take your case more seriously, which could speed up the resolution process.
Should I Use the Lemon Law or Wait for a Class-Action Lawsuit?
The Lemon Law is a much faster and more effective path to getting a resolution. A class-action lawsuit could take years, and in many cases, consumers only receive small settlements that don’t fully compensate them for their losses. If your car qualifies under the Lemon Law, filing a claim now is the best course of action.
What Are My Next Steps?
Your next step should be to consult with a knowledgeable Lemon Law attorney. A good lawyer will review your case, explain your rights, and help you figure out the best way forward. More importantly, they’ll handle the legal battle so you don’t have to deal with the dealership’s excuses and delays.
Ken, you and your wife deserve justice. You trusted a dealership that failed you in more ways than one. The fact that they originally agreed to take responsibility, only to backtrack, shows that they know they were at fault. Now it’s time to hold them accountable. You’ve got a solid case, and with the right approach, you can get the resolution you deserve.
Suzanne
2023 Ford Edge Owners: Fix Your Lemon Car Issues Now!
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 Maryland Lemon Lawyer 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 Maryland Lemon Law Attorney to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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Featured Images:
- 2023 Ford Edge ©Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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