What Are the Impact of Defects on Ford Car Resale Value?

When you buy a Ford, you expect it to work smoothly and safely - but more importantly, maintain a decent resale value.

A high resale value for your Ford means you can pocket a significant portion of your investment.

Ford - a brand revered for its reliability and performance, usually enjoys a strong resale value for its products. According to Car Edge, on average, a Ford can retain 82.61% of its value after five years.

But what if there are defects in a Ford car?

Will it fetch less value?

• Which defects will affect its resale value and how?
• What can you do to mitigate these losses?

We’ll answer all these questions in this post.

Let’s get started.

Understand the Common Defects in Ford Cars

The Ford Motor Company has been a leading auto manufacturer - but has faced its share of challenges, often topping the list for recalls. Here are some common problems in Ford vehicles and their impact on safety and performance:

1. Engine Issues

Ford vehicles have been known to suffer from engine problems, including the most recent in 2023, when the company recalled 125,322 vehicles for a potential under-hood fire hazard. Engine-related issues like these pose serious safety risks and can significantly affect your Ford’s resale value.

2. Faulty Fuel Injectors

Defective fuel injectors lead to poor fuel economy and may cause your engine to stall while driving. The sudden loss of power means you could lose control of the vehicle, leading to accidents. If the fuel leak reaches the hot engine, it could start under-hood fires, putting you and your passengers at risk.

These safety defects also mean increased chances of costly repairs down the line, which affects your Ford car’s resale value.

3. Rear Axle Problems

Real axle problems, like those for certain 2021-2023 F-150 pickups, can affect the stability of your vehicle. If the rear axle fractures, your F-150 can lose its control while on the move or even roll over when standing if the hand brake is not engaged. Such defects can make your Ford less desirable for buyers, taking its resale value for a toss.

4. Brake Failures

Ford has issued several recalls for brake-related issues, including faulty automated parking brakes that engage while driving and leaking brake calipers, which increases the risk of fatal crashes. If this safety concern isn’t addressed, it will lower the resale value.

Additionally, many Ford owners have reported other issues like automatic transmission failure, power steering issues, faulty headlights, seat belts that don’t latch properly, and fuel line issues that can lead to fires. This has forced the automaker to recall many of its vehicles.

It’s essential to replace or repair these defective parts, minor or major, before putting your Ford on the market.

How Do Defects Affect Your Ford’s Resale Value?

Think from a buyer’s perspective - would you pay a higher price for a Ford known to have defects, or would you expect a discount? Most buyers would choose the latter.

While minor defects may not affect your Ford’s resale value much, major defects can send it through the floor. Unfortunately, quality issues have dogged Ford for some time, which may have affected the consumer perception of its vehicles, especially those for resale.

When a brand like Ford is associated with frequent defects, it reduces buyer confidence, leading to poor demand - and consequently, lower resale value.

What Can You Do to Fetch a Better Resale Value for Your Ford

Whether your Ford has major or minor defects, you need to get them fixed as soon as possible. You can get everything fixed at no extra charge if the vehicle is still under warranty. Moreover, sooner you repair these issues, the more likely your Ford is to fetch a better resale value.

In addition to this, you should:

1. Maintain Your Ford

Fix any damaged or defective parts as soon as you notice them, which can prevent small issues from turning into major and expensive headaches. This approach pays in the long run as it keeps you safe behind the wheel and helps maintain your Ford car’s resale value.

2. Keep Detailed Service Records

Keep detailed records of everything, from under-warranty defects to regular servicing and maintenance. Records show that you have taken good care of your car, which can reassure potential buyers who may be willing to pay a bit extra for a well-maintained vehicle.

3. Be Transparent When Selling Your Ford Vehicle

If you expect the dealership to be honest with you when selling a Ford, you should be honest with potential buyers when reselling yours. This means disclosing any defects, modifications, replacements, as well as ongoing maintenance.

Seek Legal Advice If Your Ford Has Significant Defects

Fortunately,California’s lemon law protects consumers who buy defective cars. If your Ford has significant defects, you should immediately consult a lemon law lawyer in California.

A lemon attorney can help you:

• Understand if the defects warrant filing a lemon law claim and recovering damages.
• Guide you at every step, from filing your claim to negotiating a settlement.
• Help you get a full refund of the purchase price, including taxes, fees, and any other incidental expenses incurred.
• Uphold your rights if the case goes to trial.

Contact Our Lemon Law Firm in California

Selling a Ford with defects isn’t overly difficult - but it isn’t straightforward.

You will be required to fix the defects before putting your Ford up for sale and disclose all the defects (existing and repaired) to potential buyers. But if the defects are significant and affect the safety of your vehicle (and it’s covered under the warranty) we recommend filing a lemon law claim. This helps you recover the purchase cost of your vehicle and other associated costs minus the mileage offset. It’s usually a much better option than giving away your Ford at a giveaway price.

Think your vehicle might be a lemon?

California lemon law lawyers can help you get fairly compensated after buying a defective Ford vehicle. We offer a FREE, no-obligation case evaluation and work on a contingency arrangement. Call our office at 888-982-6915, email info@clineapc.com, or schedule a free consultation.