Koons Sterling Ford

Koons Sterling Ford's service organization is the worst dealer service department I've ever worked with in 30 years of owning cars. They consistently report to me that my car has a raft of issues with it when in fact it does not. I realize this is a difficult point to prove but let me give a couple of examples:

Yesterday I brought my 1999 ford explorer to Koons ford and explained that my windshield washer wasn't working. They called me a couple of hours later and said I needed a new windshield washer for $300.00 and recomended another $1000.00 in work to the suspension; suggesting the mechanic wouldn't grant a favorable safety inspection unless I had the work done. I refused and took my explorer to another repair shop and discovered it was only a relay that needed to be replaced. Koons typically tries to hold you over a barrel knowing it's difficult to get a second opinion when you need your car back in a day.

Several years ago, I had Koons perform the yearly VA state safety inspection. They claimed that I needed all of my ball joints replaced to pass inspection; the car only had 50K miles on it - highly suspect! But, I had the work done anyway.

I will not be doing business with Koons Ford Sterling any longer.

Update:

iv'e made a post on (6/26/03) about having stalling problems and trouble closing the tailgate. My car has been back to the dealership 15 times now and only more problems occur. Ford needs to do something to satisfy the consumers needs.

The tailgate is dented from closing it. I see focus wagons everywhere with the exact same dents.

I bought a 2002 Ford Focus on August 31, 2002. I will be driving down the highway and the car starts to hesitate and jerk around, then I will come to a stop light and the car completely cuts out. Then it takes about five times to start the car while I'm sitting in traffic with my hazards on. This happens on a daily basis.

Also, my tailgate does not shut completely, which takes many tries and I have caused damage to it having to slam it shut. Also my headliner was falling down in the back. The first time I took my vehicle in was on Oct. 28, 2002, when my car had 2000 miles. They only checked the exhaust and found no problem with the car and ordered a replacement weather strip for the tailgate.

Then I took the car in on Nov. 18, 2002 for the hesitation, headliner, stalling and the tailgate. They replaced the weather strip they had ordered and test drove the car and found nothing wrong. Then I brought the car back in for the hesitation, headliner, stalling and the tailgate on November 25, 2002. They replaced a heated oxygen sensor and did diagnostics tests on it and found nothing wrong.

I brought the car back in on March 10, 2003 for the hesitation, stalling, headliner and tailgate. They finally fixed the headliner and did the 6,000 mile check up. Then I brought my car in on Mar. 24, 2003 for the hesitation, stalling, tailgate and my dome light because from the last visit in the shop, the light was not working. They did a "Quality Care" check on the battery, lights, wiper blades, blinkers, cables, hoses gaskets, brakes, etc. Also they hooked the vehicle to a computer and drove it for 8 miles and said they found nothing wrong.

Then I brought it in on Mar. 27, 2003 for the hesitation, stalling, tailgate and there was a scraping nose coming from my rear tire. They found it was the inner fender covers dragging on the wheels from when they took the tires off on the 6,000 mile check up. Then I brought it in on Mar. 31, 2003 for the hesitation, stalling and tailgate. They did another "Quality Care" check on the vehicle and said they found nothing wrong.

Today, June 26, 2003, I dropped the car off for the 8th time for the hesitation, stalling and tailgate, for which I have to go back in the morning and test drive with a technician. I am completely dissatisfied with my Ford Focus and with Koons Sterling Ford and in the manner in which this situation has been handled. Each time I have told them about the hesitation, stalling and tailgate, and they have had total disregard in my problem and proven to be incompetent. They have caused more problems and have caused me nothing but grief.