Section A – Warranty Policy Manual
A.3 WARRANTY COVERAGES
A.3.11 Non-Reimbursable Conditions
The New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not provide coverage, and repairs are not reimbursable under warranty, when any of the following conditions/situations occur.
A.3.11.1 Damage Resulting From:
- Accidents, collision or objects striking the vehicle (where the accident was a result of defect in factory materials or workmanship, please contact the Regional Sales Office immediately. Please refer to Accident Claim
- Theft, vandalism, or riot
- Fire or explosion (unless failure occurs due to a defect in factory materials or workmanship)
- Freezing
- Misusing the vehicle, such as driving over curbs, overloading, racing, or using the vehicle as a stationary power source.
- Alteration or modification of the vehicle - including the body, chassis, or components - after the vehicle leaves Ford’s control.
- Installation of non-Ford parts installed after the vehicle leaves Ford’s control.
- Tampering with the vehicle, tampering with the emissions systems, or with other parts that affect these systems.
- Disconnecting or altering the odometer or allowing the odometer to be inoperative for an extended period of time with the result that the actual mileage cannot be determined.
- Using contaminated or improper fluids.
- Customer applied chemicals or accidental spills.
- Exceeding the vehicle's published water wading depths, or where no published depth is provided, driving through water deep enough to cause water to be ingested into the engine.
A.3.11.1.1 Other conditions/causes not reimbursable:
- Damage caused by failure to maintain the vehicle, improperly maintaining the vehicle, improper flushing procedures or using the wrong part, fuel, oil, lubricants, fluids or additives.
- Non-Ford parts installed on a vehicle, for example, parts installed by body builders or manufacturers other than Ford, or damage to Ford components caused by installation of non-Ford parts other than “certified” emissions parts.
- Vehicles that have ever been labelled or branded as “dismantled”, “fire”, “flood”, “junk”, “rebuilt”, “reconstructed”, “salvaged” or “statutory” or “economic write-off”; this will void the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
- Vehicles that have been determined to be a “total loss” by an insurance company; this will void the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
- The mileage or the date of repair has been misrepresented or altered to place a vehicle within the coverage period. Vehicle mileage can be verified by vehicle diagnostic equipment.
- Repairs that are required to correct incomplete or improper previous repairs.
- Repairs/ Modifications that are made to improve appearance or performance beyond normal standards.
- Underbody surface rust on frame or chassis components on vehicles reported as sold (excluding cases with prior consent from Ford)
- Repairs that are not performed at a Ford or Lincoln Dealership unless performed as an emergency repair or as a Dealer authorized sublet repair.
- Non-defective parts that are replaced to modify a vehicle to the latest production design levels, unless authorized by the Company.
- Repairs that alter the vehicle’s original specifications.
- The part being replaced, repaired, or adjusted has no defect in factory-supplied materials or workmanship.
- Engine Noise (Internal Engine Problem) — is not reimbursable if the engine has not been properly maintained.
- Failure of Low Speed or Reverse Gear (Manual Shift Transmission) — is not reimbursable if there is evidence of repeated abnormal shifting.
- Rear Axle Noise — is not reimbursable unless a diagnosis (road test) confirms that the noise is abnormal.
- Valve Grinding — is not reimbursable unless engine performance is not acceptable.
- Fuses as a stand-alone causal part are not warrantable. They are Reimbursable if the failure is because of a diagnosed and repaired fault in the electrical system. If there is no other warrantable failure, then a fuse is considered a maintenance item.
- Damage caused by spilled liquids. Dealers should carefully examine electronic components (audio components, automatic temperature control heads, etc.) to ensure that the cause of failure was not liquid spillage. The presence of liquid residue (a sticky or shiny substance) or buttons/knobs which don’t operate freely are evidence of abuse and may result in claim denial.
- Incorrectly installed parts or accessories.
A.3.11.2 Damage Caused by Use and/or the Environment
The New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover surface rust and deterioration of paint, trim, upholstery, and other appearance items that result from use and/or exposure to the elements.
Some examples include: