Wood Ford of Carthage — Local services in Carthage

Where good intentions don't translate to good results.

default start score: 3 stars

Responses to my initial inquiry were replied to promptly. Dealer understood my buying conditions and price limits.

I live over 2.5 hours away and they agreed to allow a 3rd party inspection but offer the dealer inspection instead. Six days pass with no response. [-1 star for lack of response] Therefore I send a follow up to have the car taken to the mechanic of my choice. Within hours I get a call from the 3rd party mechanic that the car just finished inspection. [+1 star for the promptness]

My initial trade value offer ranged from needing me to have no additional down payment to a possible $1000 additional payment.The trade value would have to be finalized after an in-person inspection. I advised my salesperson that if an additional $1000 down payment was needed due to a lower trade value, that dealings would have to be delayed (or cancelled if the car sold to another buyer). But I was 'assured' I would most likely be given the most for my trade in based on my set of photos I sent them.

I'm ready to buy the car and just need them to send over some paperwork to my credit union. I am only now informed that the sale price reflects a $1000 discount** based on in-house financing and they would like the opportunity to see what rates they can give me. After qualifying, I get a vague answer on what my finance rate would be. Only till I get connected to the finance manager he states my exact rate would be verified after I prove my identity in person. [-1 star for not being more transparent]

**they also have a "+$2000 over KBB for your trade" but it doesn't state that it's for local buyers only.

After some agreement on some initial numbers I make my way down to Carthage. My trade-in was offered at its lowest value. After reviewing my previous discussions with my salesman about how he 'assured' me that I would get most from my trade, the sales manager was firm on the lowest amount.

After some renegotiations, we close the deal and I'm told the car will be "detailed" and filled with gas. I don't get enough gas to get even halfway home to KC. The "detail" job has left gum in the center console and cleaner over spray that has permanently etched the gauge cluster lens. (see attached)

They offer me a free oil change and tank of gas as compensation for the situation. Again, since I live 2+ hours away, I suggest instead to replace the gauge cluster lens (which is less than an oil change according the an oil change receipt they left in the glove box) and if they really wanted to "take care of their customer" they would also add in a gas gift card. They agree to compensate me accordingly.

There is no reply (or compensation) to me for 5 days. Meanwhile I start getting paper contracts in the mail even though I had signed all my documents electronically. I follow up with the finance manager (via phone) to discuss why I'm receiving these copies. Apparently my electronic signature was not accepted at the time of the deal and that another part of the finance office sent me paper copies unbeknownst to him. I also touch base on the compensation for my gas/gauge cluster. He says he'll get back to me for that. [-1 star for lack of organization]

I get no response for 5 business days.

I send an email for another follow up on my compensation for my gas/gauge cluster. I inform them that if I don't get any reply by 3 business days I'll take the lack of response as a response.

I get no response. [-1 star for lack of response after agreeing to a solution!]

Total score: 0...Although this experience was very frustrating, I wasn't rudely treated while interacting with anyone in person. They seem to have good intentions but very much lacks execution. One star would be appropriate if they were rude but would lack of execution be considered just as rude or disrespectful? That's something you'd have to decide if you want to deal with them. So I would rate my experience as a 1.5 - 2 stars. Also, good luck to you if you're an...

Alriiiiiighty. I'm not usually a Karen on businesses, BUT, lemme tell you about our time with Wood Ford Carthage

My 19 year old has a 2012 Ford Fiesta, and it's been broken down for MONTHS. Months before it broke down, we got a piece of mail stating that the Transmission Control Module has a one time replacement on it because of it being a known faulty part. She called and tried to get her car scheduled, but they told her the TCM was months out on backorder and it couldnt be done at the time, fast forward to it breaking down. She was at the dollar store and her car started jerking and wouldnt go into reverse anymore. We got it to the shop and they charged $80 for the diagnostics. They said it was the clutch and quoted her around $3k for repairs, so we took it to a different mechanic (well known and a super good shop) and it was about $1600. She gets her car back and the mechanic states that it still won't go into reverse, despite changing the clutch, and he thinks it is an electrical issue. So we call Ford and they then state that it had actuators that needed replaced, so she is quoted $210 for parts and $300 for labor. She finally gets her car in, and today they call saying that they replaced the actuators, and MORE CODES popped up after they were done, the TCM being one, and so they replace it really quickly (seems crazy because whenever she called initially it was on backorder and couldn't be done, but now they're just laying around ready to be put in cars) and it's still not working. That some clutch fork and spring must have gotten broke whenever the clutch was being replaced, and placed the blame on the other mechanic, who purchased his parts from Ford and guarantees all of his work, he is not the issue here.. (Whenever she drove it home from Joplin perfectly fine, it just didn't have reverse) and then her car parked out front for 2 months waiting to be fixed. But now, because of this new work that needs to be done, they are trying to charge $1100 more dollars to just look and see if it's the problem. Whenever we dropped the car off, it started and drove all the way across Carthage to be dropped off, 2 days later(today) while picking it up, the car wouldn't even make it off of the road that Ford is on (literally pulled out on the road, drove 100 ft and wouldn't move), I had to push it for 200 ft with my 17 year old Jeep and park it at Dodge until further notice. On a 0-10 rating, I give a -5.

Amazing. I love how the diagnostics didn't work correctly, and because the car was sent elsewhere for work, it's automatically the problem. She is literally able to work maybe 25- hours a week, and they have just bled her dry on this car.

The crazy part is this isn't even the first bad experience I have had, a couple years ago whenever it was MY fiesta that was having door latch issues, I had to go through HELL to get it fixed, they even sent me back with my car in worse condition then it was whenever I dropped it off, with 2 kids in the car.

Until this is resolved, I'll make a bad review every single time I remember to. Every day if I have to.

Because Ford is at fault.

From the wrong diagnosis, to another wrong one, to literally sending her off in a car that is in worse condition then it was when she trusted them to work on it. Over $2000 in repairs for her car to not work and have MORE NEW codes after they've worked on...

My experience with Carthage Ford was great and not so great. The parts that were great were really great and the parts that weren't left me feeling unimportant and cast off. I found a car online that I liked but after talking with Jacob on the phone he told me about another car that better met my needs. He told me the 18 Fusion Hybrid had 724 miles on it. That a manager at the dealership had driven it 700 miles so now it's being sold used. I liked the car and the price. I put a credit card on file to hold the car until Saturday. Jacob called me daily to ensure I was still coming down. I live North of KC. When I answered Jacob said "it's me" which fostered friendship and comfort. I gave Jacob a heads up when I was 77 miles from the dealership. Jacob had the car running to warm up. During the drive I noticed some vibration. Jacob stated the tires have flat spots from sitting, that they don't get to drive the cars as much as they'd like. This contradicted the statement the car was being driven by a manager. I also learned later the car was purchased at auction in KC which lead me to believe everything they said was a lie. I was originally told it was a leftover and a manger drove it which allowed them to move it to the used lot. Following the test drive I inquired about the second key fob. Jacob indicated they probably had it in the back with the packet. He quickly had me sign some documents prior to moving to financing. One was a document saying they didn't owe me anything. I had no reason to believe they didn't have two fobs since it's basically a new car. He verbally said he would put some fuel in the car. Financing, Russell was friendly. He told me my payment amout "which includes your extra warranty." I told him I didn't want any extra warranties. He told me "this is a computer on wheels, why don't you want the extra warranty." It was a pretty hard sell but I said no. I told him i wanted to put more money down than I originally told them. He left to get a new deal sheet printed. I heard down the hall him tell them he needed a new form. The response was "why, what happened?" Once the paperwork was signed I was basically on my own. Jacob had transferred my belongings to the new car, even a prism hanging from my rear view mirror. When I returned to the showroom Jacob didn't get out of his chair. Not until I mentioned going through my old car. I had to return inside for two questions my insurance company had. My reception to the questions was nothing like how I was treated before the sale. Not rude, just...... First time I left a car deal without title documents. I was told "the ladies will mail them Monday, I'll stay on top of them and mail you the key fob." Tuesday morning I called after not hearing from Jacob Monday. They don't have a second key fob. No offer to help on that. It's Thursday and I've yet to see my paperwork. I like my car and I am happy with my deal. I'm happy with my financing and glad I declined extra warranties. They are so much cheaper after market FYI but usually don't cover what you need at the time... More loopholes than...