
THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD
(U.S. ONLY)
The Dispute Settlement Board is:
²an independent, third-party arbitration program
for warranty disputes
²available free to owners and lessees of qualifying
Ford Motor Company vehicles
The Dispute Settlement Board may not be available in
all states. Ford Motor Company reserves the right to
change eligibility limitations, modify procedures
and/or to discontinue this service without notice and
without incurring obligations per applicable state law.
What kinds of cases does the Board review?
Unresolved warranty repair concerns or vehicle
performance concerns as on Ford and Lincoln
Mercury cars and Ford and Lincoln Mercury light
trucks which are within the terms of any applicable
written new vehicle warranty are eligible for review,
except those involving:
²a non-Ford product
²a non-Ford dealership
²sales disputes between customer and dealer
except those associated with warranty repairs or
concerns with the vehicle's performance as
designed
²a request for reimbursement of consequential
expenses unless a service or product concern is
being reviewed
²items not covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty (including maintenance and wear items)
²alleged personal injury/property damage claims
²cases currently in litigation
²vehicles not used primarily for family, personal or
household purposes (except in states where the
Dispute Settlement Board is required to review
commercial vehicles)
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To properly review your case, the Board needs the
following information:
²legible copies of all documents and maintenance
or repair orders relevant to the case
²the year, make, model, and Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) listed on your vehicle ownership
license
²the date of repair(s) and mileage at the time of
occurrence(s)
²the current mileage
²the name of the dealer(s) who sold or serviced
the vehicle
²a brief description of your unresolved concern
²a brief summary of the action taken by the
dealer(s) and Ford Motor Company
²the names (if known) of all the people you
contacted at the dealership(s)
²a description of the action you expect to resolve
your concern
You will receive a letter of explanation if your
application does not qualify for Board review.
Oral presentations
If you would like to make an oral presentation,
indicate YES to question #6 on the application.
While it is your right to make an oral presentation
before the Board, this is not a requirement and the
Board will decide the case whether or not an oral
presentation is made. Oral presentation may be
requested by the Board as well.
Making a decision
Board members review all available information
related to each complaint, including oral
presentations, and arrive at a fair and impartial
decision. Board review may be terminated at any
time by either party.
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Every effort is made to decide the case within 40
days of the date that all requested information is
received by the Board. Since the Board generally
meets once a month, it may take longer for the
Board to consider some cases.
After a case is reviewed, the Board mails you a
decision letter and a form on which to accept or
reject the Board's decision. The decisions of the
Board are binding on Ford (and, in some cases, on
the dealer) but not on consumers who are free to
pursue other remedies available to them under state
or federal law.
To Request a DSB Brochure/Application
For a brochure/application, speak to your dealer or
write/call to the Board at the following
address/phone number:
Dispute Settlement Board
P.O. Box 5120
Southfield, MI 48086±5120
1±800±428±3718
You may also contact the North American Customer
Relationship Center at 1-800-392-3673 (Ford), TDD
for the hearing impaired: 1-800-232-5952 or by
writing to the Center at the following address:
Ford Motor Company
Customer Relationship Center
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
P.O. Box 6248
Dearborn, Michigan 48121
UTILIZING THE MEDIATION/ARBITRATION
PROGRAM (CANADA ONLY)
In those cases where you continue to feel that the
efforts by Ford and the dealer to resolve a
factory-related vehicle service concern have been
unsatisfactory, Ford of Canada participates in an
impartial third party mediation/arbitration program
administered by the Canadian Motor Vehicle
Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP).
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The CAMVAP program is a straight-forward and
relatively speedy alternative to resolve a
disagreement when all other efforts to produce a
settlement have failed. This procedure is without
cost to you and is designed to eliminate the need for
lengthy and expensive legal proceedings.
In the CAMVAP program, impartial third-party
arbitrators conduct hearings at mutually convenient
times and places in an informal environment. These
impartial arbitrators review the positions of the
parties, make decisions and, when appropriate,
render awards to resolve disputes. CAMVAP
decisions are fast, fair, and final; the arbitrator's
award is binding both to you and Ford of Canada.
CAMVAP services are available in all territories and
provinces, except Quebec. For more information,
without charge or obligation, call your CAMVAP
Provincial Administrator directly at 1-800-207-0685.
GETTING ASSISTANCE OUTSIDE THE U.S. AND
CANADA
Before exporting your vehicle to a foreign country,
contact the appropriate foreign embassy or
consulate. These officials can inform you of local
vehicle registration regulations and where to find
unleaded fuel.
If you cannot find unleaded fuel or can only get fuel
with an anti-knock index lower than is
recommended for your vehicle, contact a district or
owner relations/customer relationship office.
The use of leaded fuel in your vehicle without
proper conversion may damage the effectiveness of
your emission control system and may cause engine
knocking or serious engine damage. Ford Motor
Company/Ford of Canada is not responsible for any
damage caused by use of improper fuel.
In the United States, using leaded fuel may also
result in difficulty importing your vehicle back into
the U.S.
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If your vehicle must be serviced while you are
traveling or living in Central or South America, the
Caribbean, or the Middle East, contact the nearest
Ford dealership. If the dealership cannot help you,
write or call:
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
WORLDWIDE DIRECT MARKET OPERATIONS
1555 Fairlane Drive
Fairlane Business Park #3
Allen Park, Michigan 48101
U.S.A.
Telephone: (313) 594-4857
FAX: (313) 390-0804
If you are in another foreign country, contact the
nearest Ford dealership. If the dealership employees
cannot help you, they can direct you to the nearest
Ford affiliate office.
If you buy your vehicle in North America and then
relocate outside of the U.S. or Canada, register your
vehicle identification number (VIN) and new address
with Ford Motor Company Worldwide Direct Market
Operations.
FORD CAR CARE PRODUCTS FOR YOUR
VEHICLE
Ford has many quality products available from your
dealer to clean your vehicle and protect its finishes.
These quality products have been specifically
engineered to fulfill your automotive needs; they are
custom designed to complement the style and
appearance of your vehicle. Each product is made
from high quality materials and that meet or exceed
Ford's rigid specifications. For best results, use the
following or products of equivalent quality:
Ford Custom Clearcoat Polish*
Ford Custom Silicone Gloss Polish
Ford Custom Vinyl Protectant* (not available in
Canada)
Motorcraft Vinyl Conditioner (Canada only)
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Front end covers (full and mini)
Lubricants and oils
Molded splash guards
Seat belt extenders
Tonneau covers (mini)
Touch-up paint
Universal floor mats
For maximum vehicle performance, keep the
following information in mind when adding
accessories or equipment to your vehicle:
²When adding accessories, equipment, passengers
and luggage to your vehicle, do not exceed the
total weight capacity of the vehicle or of the front
or rear axle (GVWR or GAWR as indicated on the
Safety compliance certification label). Consult
your dealer for specific weight information.
²The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
and Canadian Radio Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) regulate the use of mobile
communications systems - such as two-way
radios, telephones and theft alarms - that are
equipped with radio transmitters. Any such
equipment installed in your vehicle should comply
with FCC or CRTC regulations and should be
installed only by a qualified service technician.
²Mobile communications systems may harm the
operation of your vehicle, particularly if they are
not properly designed for automotive use or are
not properly installed. When operated, such
systems may cause the engine to stumble or stall
or cause the transmission to be damaged or
operate improperly. In addition, such systems may
be damaged or their performance may be affected
by operating your vehicle. (Citizens band [CB]
transceivers, garage door openers and other
transmitters with outputs of five watts or less will
not ordinarily affect your vehicle's operation.)
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²Ford cannot assume responsibility for any adverse
effects or damage that may result from the use of
such equipment.
ORDERING ADDITIONAL OWNER'S
LITERATURE
To order the publications in this portfolio, contact
Helm, Incorporated at:
HELM, INCORPORATED
P.O. Box 07150
Detroit, Michigan 48207
Or call:
For a free publication catalog, order toll free:
1-800-782-4356
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST
(Items in this catalog may be purchased by credit
card holders only.)
Obtaining a French owner's guide
French Owner's Guides can be obtained from your
dealer or by writing to Ford Motor Company of
Canada, Limited, Service Publications, P.O. Box
1580, Station B, Mississauga, Ontario L4Y 4G3.
IN CALIFORNIA (U.S. ONLY)
California Civil Code Section 1793.2(d) requires that,
if a manufacturer or its representative is unable to
repair a motor vehicle to conform to the vehicle's
applicable express warranty after a reasonable
number of attempts, the manufacturer shall be
required to either replace the vehicle with one
substantially identical or repurchase the vehicle and
reimburse the buyer in an amount equal to the
actual price paid or payable by the consumer (less a
reasonable allowance for consumer use). The
consumer has the right to choose whether to receive
a refund or replacement vehicle.
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California Civil Code Section 1793.22(b) presumes
that the manufacturer has had a reasonable number
of attempts to conform the vehicle to its applicable
express warranties if, within the first 18 months of
ownership of a new vehicle or the first 29 000 km
(18 000 miles), whichever occurs first:
1. Two or more repair attempts are made on the
same nonconformity likely to cause death or serious
bodily injury OR
2. Four or more repair attempts are made on the
same nonconformity (a defect or condition that
substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the
vehicle) OR
3. The vehicle is out of service for repair of
nonconformities for a total of more than 30 calendar
days (not necessarily all at one time)
In the case of 1 or 2 above, the consumer must also
notify the manufacturer of the need for the repair of
the nonconformity at the following address:
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
Mail Drop 3NE-B
Dearborn, MI 48126
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