My daughter leased a Ford Focus. When the three years were up, I decided to buy the car. So at lease end, I went to the Ford dealership, they ran my credit, verified employment, etc., etc. I signed all the paperwork/contracts.
About a month later, the salesman at the dealership contacted me and said that they actually weren’t supposed to sell me the car (Ford doesn’t allow anyone except the person who leased the car buy it) and that they needed it back.
But I DID BUY IT. I signed a contract – the Ford Dealership signed the same contract selling me the car.
When I brought that up (& said I think I should just keep the car), the salesman said that from what he was being told, Ford will think my daughter still has the car and come after her. Plus, they won’t be able to get the title from Ford to transfer it into my name.
Has anyone had this happen? Heard of anything like this?
We leased the car in California, but were living in Ohio at the time of the end of lease buyout.
Honda has had some plug-ins and all-electrics that had to be returned because Honda did not want to continue making parts for it…that is the closest comparison I can get to this story. Did the guy leave some really good drugs in it or something?
I read the contract. I didn’t see anything that allowed the contract to be rescinded other than - “Limited Right to Cancel: If within 20 days we are unable to obtain financing, you or we may cancel the sale of the vehicle.” It has been 30 days and financing was obtained.
Ford Finance owns the car, not the dealership. If Ford said the dealer couldn’t sell you the car and won’t sign the title over, it sounds pretty clear that you need to return the car, unless you want to be in possession of a “stolen” vehicle.
It’s not ford’s fault that the dealership you went to is incompetent.
This should be common knowledge for a ford dealer.
But like others said cab east llc i.e ford mo co is the owner of the vehicle not the dealership.
The dealership can buy the vehicle from ford and then sell it, depending on how much trouble it is and how much you like the vehicle this would be an option for you.
I just purchased a Ford off lease. The person on the lease needs to purchase the car. The dealership cannot buy the car from Ford in the last 90 days of the contract. I learned this after dropping the car off at one dealer that was going to buy it. They called the next day and told me they could not buy it from Ford. To make a long story short. I purchased the lease so my brother-in-law could buy it from me. Not totally related to this post. A Ford dealership will charge a markup fee of $500 on the buyout and in Arizona another $500 in Document fees. Hope it works out for you. I contacted 4 different dealerships and got about 4 different answers on how the process works.
@Lazarus: No, it’s not Ford Motor Company’s fault – but the dealership should know better. I guess I was thinking they could be held accountable in some way (by a signed contract maybe).
And @mani_is_kool: Thank you, I will do that for sure.
LOL, I don’t think it will get that far. I don’t plan on being a felon on the run for a stupid Ford Focus!
I haven’t been contacted by the dealership’s business manager yet. He has been on vacation. That’s why I decided to see if I could get some insight and information here first.
This is just SO unprofessional. I want nothing to do with Ford after this.
The mileage on the Focus was under the lease terms, and although I got the WearCare coverage - the car is in perfect condition. I just thought the buyout price was fair, and it was easy & quick. I’m busy, I didn’t want to have to shop for another car.
