Jim Tidwell Ford

DO NOT USE THE SERVICE CENTER HERE! We wish we had read the reviews before we took our diesel truck here. Read this review and heed the warning. Jim Tidwell had our truck for THREE weeks for a water pump r the reviews before we took our diesel truck here. Read this review and heed the warning. Jim Tidwell had our truck for THREE weeks for a water pump replacement and front brakes. We made the first available appointment on Saturday, 12/12 for a diagnostic for the water leak, to check alignment/popping noise on the left front side, and to check the brakes. Our service advisor Candace told us that no one would be able to look at our truck until Tuesday. We weren’t sure why we were able to schedule a Saturday appointment when we wouldn’t receive any service for two business days. At this point, we knew we would need a rental care which I had to ask about. She told us she would send us a service number for a discount on a rental car. She did not send this number and we weren’t able to track her down to get it until Monday which led us to have major commuting issues Monday and my husband having to take a day off just to get a rental car Tuesday. Absolute fiasco. Results from the diagnostic weren’t confirmed with us until Tuesday evening and we initiated work on Wednesday after a game of phone tag and looking for emails with estimates that weren’t sent when we were told they would be. At this time (12/16), they told us it wouldn’t be ready until after Christmas because they had to order the water pump. Fine, we said. We understood the holiday and that people would likely be on vacation. Fast forward to Saturday, 12/26, we expected to receive a call updating us about our car. No call. My husband finally called Monday, 12/28 in the afternoon and was told it wouldn’t be ready until Thursday- New Years Eve. No one had even started on the vehicle. I called and asked foe a manager and was told twice he would call me back by the end of the business day. I called at 6:40PM because I had received no call (they close at 7) and finally spoke with Mike. He gave me a lot of excuses for why the car hasn’t been started on and told me that at his previous dealership, it took 4-6 weeks to get a diesel fixed. WHAT? Who can be without a vehicle for 6 weeks? He did tell me that he would call me the next day. The next morning, he called an hour and a half later than he was supposed to and told me our mechanic was off that day and wouldn’t be able to start until Wednesday (cue the eye roll). He promised he would touch base with me later Wednesday afternoon...he never did. He called Thursday morning and said they were doing everything in their power to get it done that day. I called at 1:30 to check (since it’s New Year’s Eve and I knew people would leave early) and was told they would check with the technician and call me right back. They didn’t. I called at 3:00 and they told me it was done- but the brakes were not repaired. We were flabbergasted by this and confused but at this point, we didn’t trust them to have our truck a second longer. We got the price over the phone (I even had the service advisor repeat it to me) and drove to pick it up. We arrive and are told the front brakes were indeed replaced and given a price that was $1000 more than we were on the phone (but to be fair, similar to our original quote). We asked for Mike and he was immediately defensive saying that he told me he would call me when it was done, clearly upset that I had already called twice and spoken to other people- because I was unable to reach his direct line. He insinuated that I was lying about the price I was given over the phone (e.g, “no one would’ve told you that.”). We were absolutely furious. He also acted like he was doing us a favor because he pushed us in front of a customer that just bought a truck from them in November. Clearly we weren’t a priority because our truck was purchased at another dealership. He finally gave us a discount because we had already spent hundreds on a rental car, but truthfully there is no way we would EVER return here. It’s 19 days later and we have our truck back. Go to another dealership that values your business, communicates well, and doesn’t call you a liar. More

Do yourself a favor and find a different servicing dealer, even if it means driving a little further. I was having an issue with my Expedition's alarm going off by itself. I called the dealer close dealer, even if it means driving a little further. I was having an issue with my Expedition's alarm going off by itself. I called the dealer closest to me, but they were booked up for the next few days. When I called Jim Tidwell Ford I was told they had appointments as early as 11:30 today. I explicitly asked if that meant they could actually get my vehicle in for diagnosis today, not just get me there to drop off my vehicle. I was told "yes", my vehicle would be diagnosed today by a technician. I arrived on time and immediately and was greeted by what I thought was a service writer. Then, after telling him why I was there, I was told I needed to have a different type of writer for my issue. He asked me to go into the building and speak with a service advisor inside. The problem was the people inside weren't service advisors. The representative inside told me she'd have to locate a service advisor for me. What? That made no sense. After waiting there for five minutes, while she literally did nothing, I asked where the service advisor was. At that point she said "let me go find one". Honestly, I was at a loss why she didn't do that in the first place. When she finally located an advisor I was asked to step to the other end of the service lane to speak with her. I described my problem and she stated it would be about 24 hours before it could be diagnosed. Already irritated by the lack of professionalism I'd experienced so far, I told her that was absolutely unacceptable. I had arranged for someone to pick me up at the dealership and had driven more than twenty minutes to get there because I was assured my vehicle would be diagnosed today. She told me their service appointments are set by a third party call center that has no idea what their service availability is on any given day. I told her I didn't care, they still represent Jim Tidwell Ford. At that point she said she didn't want to argue, she'd get the service manager. Eventually the service manager came to speak with me. I explained both my vehicle issue and the problem I had with being lied to by the call center to set the service appointment. I didn't appreciate rearranging my day and inconveniencing my wife to come pick me up when they obviously had no ability to get my vehicle diagnosed the same day. He immediately defaulted to the position that electrical problems can sometimes take days to diagnose plus whatever time it take to order parts. He made no attempt to assure me my vehicle would get diagnosed today as promised. Nor did he make any attempt to try to help the situation. Service departments like Jim Tidwell Ford's are why so many customers loathe the experience of dropping their vehicle off for service at the dealership. They assume, even if your mad, you'll just feel you have no choice and put up with their nonsense. I took my keys and left the dealership. I won't darken their doors again after this incredibly poor customer care. More

Charged for work not done They'll charge you for work they don't do and hope you don't notice. Then ask for a good score on their survey before they'll do anything about it. They'll charge you for work they don't do and hope you don't notice. Then ask for a good score on their survey before they'll do anything about it. Avoid at all costs. More

Unacceptable Wait times I've been to this dealer a few times. Before the whole pandemic thing, I would drive up to get an oil change. The wait time was always 2 hours.... u I've been to this dealer a few times. Before the whole pandemic thing, I would drive up to get an oil change. The wait time was always 2 hours.... ugh Last week I got and email coupon for an oil change. (they no longer take walk ins). So I set an appointment. I arrive for the appointment at 1pm and ask how long the wait is. I was shocked to hear it is 3 hours. They don't take walk ins, they schedule appointments and still 3 hours. What kind of a genius (sarcastic) runs this operation? Won't be returning. More

I love Ford pickup trucks that’s the only trucks I have ever owned. I purchased a 2014 F1/50 Limited late 2014 calendar year and I love my truck. But the customer service and maintenance at Jim Tidwell a ever owned. I purchased a 2014 F1/50 Limited late 2014 calendar year and I love my truck. But the customer service and maintenance at Jim Tidwell and a list of other North Georgia Ford Dealerships are making want to look at other brands. I was getting ready to buy my dream truck but I cannot continue to get poor service all I received was excuses. I spoke with my Service Consultant Tristan after having to call multiple times and get the receptionist to get him and again more excuses. The Service Manager provided more excuses for failing to get the truck fixed and got his employees lack of professional services. I am beyond frustrated with Tidwell Ford. This is why people are buying lesser quality trucks from Toyota and Nissan because they are tired of some of the American Brands providing poor service after the sale. I called Several dealerships to get the maintenance and the price varied from $3200-$5800 dollars and the parts $620-$920 dollars. I guess I will be looking at buying from another brand moving forward I am going to dump my Ford Explorer, Escape SE, and F 1/50 Limited in the near future no more Ford Vehicles will be purchased by my family. More

Bait and switch with pricing. Not honest and will add extra fees. Negotiated a price on the phone and arrived to a much higher price. extra fees. Negotiated a price on the phone and arrived to a much higher price. More

During a drive from Virginia to visit relatives, my 2014 Taurus SHO experienced severe drive ability issues. It had reduced power, flashing check engine indicator, ran rough and was difficult to start. My w Taurus SHO experienced severe drive ability issues. It had reduced power, flashing check engine indicator, ran rough and was difficult to start. My wife was traveling alone and had about 80 or so miles to her destination. Fuel economy plummeted and there was a strong smell of gasoline in the driver compartment. It was late in the evening two days before Christmas. She filled the tank and continued to her destination. The next morning the car was driven to Jim Tidwell Service department and turned over for diagnosis. This was Christmas eve and they could not not get to it until Thursday after the Holiday. Wife walked about 100 yards to Enterprise rental and obtained a vehicle to get through the week. Thursday morning I was contacted and told that the car likely had fuel contamination and that three of the six injectors would require replacement. I decided to replace all six and was told parts could be obtained and the work completed by Monday 30 Dec. This information was via email and phone conversation with one of the service writers. Remember I am in Virginia. Not wanting wife to drive back alone in a vehicle that just had a major repair, I decided to fly from Virginia and drive back with her. I arrived and checked in with the service department on Saturday morning 28 Dec. Was told there was a delay getting the injectors and the car would not be ready until the middle of the next week. We had no choice but to turn our local rental car to a one-way contract and get back to Virginia. The next few days I found it difficult to get in touch with anyone to get updates on progress. Jan 7 of the new year I received the word we had been waiting for. My vehicle was done and ready for pickup. The wife and I drove to Richmond VA, Boarded a Greyhound to Atlanta and a taxi to the dealership. This was a 17 hour adventure that is beyond the scope of this review. The Taurus was driven out by the Shop Foreman Mr. Tommy Powers. He was very patient and professional, answering all our questions. I was a bit apprehensive about the upcoming 500 mile "Test Drive" ahead. After speaking with Mr. Powers and hearing examples of failures he has seen with the EcoBoost series of engines, he put me at ease. Mr Powers has over 30 years experience in the industry. He had actually assisted in the repair on our car and was confident we would not have any problems. I had requested that all old parts be returned to me and a fuel sample taken. The staff had it all ready when we arrived. With the exception of untimely communication, aggravated by the breakdown during Christmas, I feel the service department did an outstanding job. The car ran flawlessly back to Virginia. The repairs are covered for 3 years, unlimited mileage, good at any ford dealership. Summary: This was an expensive repair not covered under warranty, our car is 5 years old and had over 74K miles on it. We still do not know if fuel caused the injectors to fail. Lesson learned: Buy the extended warranty when you purchase your new vehicle! I see several negative reviews for this service department. My experience was a positive one. I feel the whole service team, from the receptionist who answered the phone to the several service writers I had phone conversations and email exchange with, all came together to get my car back on the road. Thanks for a great job! More

When i was in the office signing the papers on the truck they had me so confident everything was tookin care of until I went to get my tag that I made sure and my mother as my witness they reinsurerd my tax they had me so confident everything was tookin care of until I went to get my tag that I made sure and my mother as my witness they reinsurerd my taxes was paid and I could get my tag I put 8000 down on a new truck with no trade long story short I had to pay my taxes to get my tag I would not recommend doing business here and did not want to help me pay them just cause it sounds and basically told me the deal been made there’s nothing there going to do I have record proof dealership night mares More