Bear in mind to show round: Homewood lady Tracy Ford calls ABC7 I-Crew amid battle to get loaner automobile from BMW

CHICAGO (WLS) — A lady within the southern suburbs goes toe to toe with luxurious automotive producer BMW.

The girl says her automotive was beneath recall for weeks, however she could not get BMW to offer her a mortgage.

That is no small recall. It impacts greater than 700,000 BMW automobiles.

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It is the very last thing any supervisor desires to get within the mail: a rescission letter. However when drivers get one, they anticipate the automaker to repair the issue and get them again on the highway as quickly as doable.

Tracy Ford says BMW put her by means of the wringer, so she known as the ABC7 I-Crew.

“I am upset as a result of I am paying on a automotive and I am paying insurance coverage for one thing I can not drive,” Ford stated.

Ford owns a 3-series BMW, however she hasn’t been capable of drive it for months.

The Homewood lady obtained a recall discover from BMW in early October, saying the recall concerned the water pump’s electrical plug connector. Small drops of liquid can drip onto the water pump’s electrical connector, and over time this could result in a brief circuit, and in uncommon instances, a fireplace.

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The recall says “don’t proceed to drive the automobile.”

“Ugh, I freaked out,” Ford stated. “I am not going to drive it and danger me and my household being within the automotive and one thing like that taking place, so I used to be scared.”

Ford says she known as her BMW vendor, and a supervisor instructed her they’d no concept when the components can be obtainable and instructed she name a company particular person for a mortgage.

She detailed the response she obtained from BMW.

“Calling round to completely different sellers to see if I can get a loaner,” stated Ford. “In order that put me able to name all completely different sellers in Illinois.”

Ford says all of the sellers who’ve instructed her firm have dealt with most of these loans. It was a irritating backwards and forwards, in the meantime her automotive sits in her storage gathering mud.

After virtually two months had handed, she known as the I-Crew to unravel the matter.

“I noticed the way you care about shoppers, and also you care about individuals,” Ford stated. “You helped individuals and it received outcomes.”

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BMW tells the I-Crew the recall includes greater than 700,000 automobiles. The corporate says “BMW’s vendor companions do their finest to accommodate as many purchasers as they will with loaners for short-term repairs, however the variety of automobiles obtainable is restricted, and it might be tough to accommodate long-term wants. Given the inherent low dangers related to the recall, clients could proceed to make use of their automobiles till they’re notified that the treatment is on the market.”

However Ford identified that the recall letter clearly says, “don’t proceed to drive the automobile.”

“I am offended,” Ford stated. “I am upset … as a result of I can not consider they’re telling me it is cool to drive the automotive.”

BMW instructed the I-Crew they’d be comfortable to work with Ford to return to some type of answer, and would examine her automotive within the coming days. A couple of week later, Ford says BMW contacted her and stated they’d tow her automotive to their facility and concern a rental automotive at their expense.

She is relieved to say the least, however hopes BMW lays out a greater plan for his or her clients with recalled automobiles.

“It is a billion-dollar company,” Ford stated. “It should not be like that, because the shoppers ought to be sitting right here and never have a lender.”

BMW tells the I-Crew they anticipate a inventory of components to be obtainable someday within the new yr. In the meantime, the corporate says it will probably examine affected automobiles for corrosion close to {the electrical} connector. If no corrosion is current, they are saying no repairs will likely be mandatory as there will likely be no danger.

Ford says she received the mortgage, her automotive was inspected and she or he was given the precise to drive it whereas they watch for components. She simply wished it did not have to return to all of this.