This may sound harsh, but by law, neither Ford, nor the dealer is required to give you anything, even if the vehicle grenades 10 feet off the dealer lot. Once you sign the paperwork and leave the vehicle belongs to you, not the dealer. The law only requires that the manufacturer effect repairs within a reasonable amount of time, typically 30 or 31 days, with at least 1+1 visit for the same, related or caused by issue.
Unless you bought an extended warranty with “rental” coverage. Now, I flat out don’t know if you have the extended warranty and use the rental coverage for a covered repair while in the -factory warranty period- if that counts as time toward a lemon law suit.
If you get a loaner vehicle as a courtesy, the time down does not count towards a lemon law suit.
Now, granted... this is a rather spectacular failure on multiple levels and it’s obviously in the dealer’s best interest to keep you happy right now, but legally speaking, all they are required to do is repair the vehicle.
I got to find all this out when I was 20 and nowhere near prepared to take some car manufacturer to court, nor did I have the level of discretion needed to tackle dealer shenanigans.
My point here- this stuff never happens when and where it’s convenient, or under circumstances that you have the chance to carefully consider. so do the best you can to be detached from the actual circumstances and be as objective as you can. it’s a tall order, but you’ll be better off for it.
