Consumer complaint received 2025-12-28 00:00:00
Product: Vehicle loan or lease — Loan
Issue: Managing the loan or lease — Problem with additional products or services purchased with the loan
Company: FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally dispute the denial of warranty coverage related to a serious safety defect in my vehicle and to document my concerns for the record. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I observed a warning light illuminate in my vehicle and received a notification instructing me to schedule service for a restraints indicator lamp warning. The warning message explicitly stated : * The restraints control module has detected a fault with the driver-side air curtain circuit. Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX, immediately upon XXXX XXXX XXXX opening, I contacted the service department to schedule an appointment. I specifically asked whether this issue was covered under warranty and was told that it was. At that time, my vehicle had XXXX miles and is fully covered under the XXXX bumper-to-bumper warranty. 

I scheduled service for XX/XX/XXXX due to the severity of the defect. This is a critical safety issue : the driver-side airbag may fail to deploy in a collision, and the drivers seat is inoperable, unable to move forward, backward, up, or down. These conditions present an unreasonable safety risk. 

I also requested that an active recall be addressed during the same visit, specifically regarding water intrusion into the body control module, which may lead to corrosion and failure. This recall also poses a safety hazard, as it can result in loss of communication with exterior lighting and signal lamps. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I was contacted by the service manager and informed that the recall repair sealant required additional drying time. I was then advised that the restraints system wiring under the drivers seat would not be repaired under warranty because the damage was allegedly caused by rodent activity. I was informed that the repair would cost {$750.00} out of pocket. 

I strongly dispute this determination. I own a brand-new XXXX white XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I do not have a rodent problem at my residence, nor have I ever observed signs of rodent activity in or around my vehicle. The vehicle was transported from the XXXX XXXX location to my home, and I did not take possession of it from the XXXX XXXX XXXX location where it was originally purchased via loan in XX/XX/XXXX. 

There is no evidence establishing when or where this alleged damage occurred. It could have occurred while the vehicle was in dealership custody, during transport, or during prior servicing, including oil changes. Despite this, the service department has stated that their insurance provider would deny coverage based solely on photographs purportedly showing rodent bite marks.

I remain under full bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage. A denial based on speculative causationwithout definitive proof of owner negligence or external interferenceis unacceptable, particularly when the defect affects federally regulated safety restraint systems. 

If rodent-related damage is as common as the dealership suggests, it raises serious concerns regarding vehicle design and manufacturer responsibility. Safety-critical wiring should not be so easily compromised in a consumer vehicle still well within its warranty period.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation