Ford Dealer Sold Him the Incorrect Vehicle, Requests He Cover the Difference Weeks Later | Carscoops

      The dealer attempted to impose an additional charge of $2,500 after selling the incorrect trim level of a Bronco.

      A Ford customer shared their experience of purchasing a new 2024 Bronco from a dealership. Weeks later, they were notified that there had been a pricing error, as the vehicle was from a lower trim level. After some discussions, it seems the dealer ultimately relented.

      Everyone wants to depart from the dealership feeling like they scored a great deal, right? However, one new Ford Bronco owner may remember their “good deal” for quite some time, though not for the reasons they anticipated. What should have been a straightforward purchase turned into a bit of chaos, as the dealership allegedly sold the wrong SUV and attempted to extract thousands more from the buyer.

      This situation began a few weeks ago in North Carolina, where a Ford customer sought an SUV suitable for beach outings. Naturally, the Bronco Outer Banks, named after the state's coastal islands, was the perfect match. The buyer completed the paperwork and drove the car home, likely envisioning their sandy adventures. But just two weeks later, the dream began to unravel.

      According to a Reddit post from the disgruntled Bronco buyer, the Ford salesman contacted them requesting a photo of the VIN. After sending it, the salesman called back to inform them they had sold the wrong SUV. Apparently, the Bronco purchased was valued at $2,500 more than the one the dealer intended to sell. The dealer's response? Either pay the extra amount or return for the “correct” model.

      The Wrong Bronco, But a Superior One

      “The car I drove home had a higher package with better features than the one they believed they sold me,” the owner recounted in a post seeking legal advice. “To me, that seemed unreasonable. Why should I bear the consequences of their error? This is the vehicle I test drove. I didn’t drive the ‘correct’ car. This was discussed among three different individuals, and now they suddenly recognized this issue and say I need to pay more or return to get the lesser-value vehicle.”

      Indeed, the paperwork featured a different VIN. What options did the customer have? One Reddit commenter proposed two possibilities. First, revise the deal with the correct VIN intact and no further changes. Second, completely cancel the transaction. In the latter scenario, however, the dealer would then possess a Bronco with over 1,000 miles (around 1,600 km) on it and which had been to the beach a few times—clearly not ideal for resale.

      Ultimately, it seems the dealer opted for the first option, which turned out to be the sensible choice for all parties concerned. “They reached out and mentioned they needed a few days and asked me to come in this week to adjust the paperwork,” the buyer stated. “There was no further discussion of owing money, so hopefully they will absorb the loss.”

      Fortunately, they did. In a subsequent post, the buyer confirmed that the dealership honored the original deal and was updating all necessary paperwork. “In short, they are honoring the originally agreed price and updating all the paperwork,” stated the now-content owner.

      Lessons Learned: Know When to Stand Your Ground

      In this situation, the customer received what they were promised, and all turned out well in the end. However, it serves as a reminder of how quickly things can go awry when dealing with dealerships. If you find yourself in a comparable situation, keep in mind that it’s always worthwhile to question what’s being presented to you, and don’t hesitate to be firm when something feels amiss.