My experience with Clay Cooley Ford was mixed. On the positive side, the dealership provided me with a loaner vehicle while my 2016 Ford Taurus was being repaired, which I genuinely appreciated because it allowed me to maintain transportation during the process. I brought my car in for issues with the air conditioning control system, entertainment module, and transaxle. However, I was disappointed by what I felt was an overly aggressive approach from both the sales and service departments. Initially, I authorized repairs to the air conditioning and entertainment modules, transaxle work, and a front-end alignment. The following day, I decided to have the transaxle work and alignment completed by another shop that could perform those services more quickly and at a lower cost. When I informed the dealership, I was met with resistance, including reminders that I had been provided a loaner vehicle and mention of a 20% restocking fee for parts. Because I had never been informed of any restocking fee beforehand, I felt pressured into proceeding with the repairs. Looking back, I believe I should have challenged that fee and limited the dealership's work to the Ford-specific repairs while taking the remaining work elsewhere, which likely would have saved both time and money.
The repair process itself was also frustrating. I dropped my vehicle off on July 27 and did not receive it back until August 6, meaning the dealership had my car for 11 days. Beyond the initial diagnosis, it did not appear that significant repair work began until well into the second week. I also received conflicting information regarding a transmission leak. My Taurus has approximately 167,000 miles and has never had a transmission service. Multiple independent shops had warned me that performing a full transmission service at that mileage could create additional problems. While several service advisors dismissed those concerns as an "old wives' tale" and encouraged me to proceed with the repair, the service manager ultimately advised me against it and confirmed the same guidance I had received elsewhere. That inconsistency undermined my confidence in the advice I was receiving and left me questioning whether my best interests were always the priority.
Finally, I was disappointed with the condition in which my vehicle was returned. After paying nearly $3,800 for repairs, I expected at least a basic cleaning, but instead the car was covered in dust and dirt. More concerning, the battery was dead when the vehicle was returned to me. The dealership had to jump-start it before I left, but shortly afterward the battery failed again while I was out, leaving me stranded. I had to call for another jump-start and ultimately replace the battery. While I appreciate the convenience of the loaner vehicle and the service manager's honest advice regarding the transmission, the high-pressure sales tactics, lengthy repair time, inconsistent communication, and condition of my vehicle upon return made this an experience I cannot fully recommend. read more