Ford is Offering a New Money Back Guarantee & Warranty Coverage on Pre Owned Vehicles to Give Buyers Piece of Mind

author: FutureCar Staff    

Shopping for a pre owned vehicle is stressful for many people with a wide variety of vehicle choices combined with high-pressure sales tactics at auto dealerships. Moreover, not knowing a vehicle's service history can put off some buyers and cause them to worry about something going wrong as soon as they complete their purchase and drive away.

Ford Motor Co hopes to address these concerns with a new money back guarantee called "Ford Blue Advantage" on its pre owned vehicles. The automaker aims to enhance its used-vehicle digital marketplace, offering buyers increased peace of mind while helping Ford dealers remain leaders in the used car market.

Beginning next month, vehicles sold under the Ford Blue Advantage platform will include a 14-day/1,000-mile money-back guarantee, giving customers ample time to test drive the vehicle to see if its a right fit for them.

Ford Blue Advantage is powered by online car marketplace Autotrader. It allows customers to search a wide selection of Ford and non-Ford vehicles with a personalized shopping experience that includes a search-by-vehicle option and preference for home delivery, at-home test drive and video walkaround.

All of the vehicles for sale through the program are thoroughly inspected by factory-trained technicians and backed by Ford Motor Company warranties under two different certification levels, "Gold Certified" or "Blue Certified". 

The money-back guarantee applies to both certification levels and it's the best guarantee offered by any full-line automaker, according to Ford.

Ford says the new platform will feature a dealer's best selection of used Ford and non-Ford vehicles. The online shopping portal powered by Autotrader can also help dealerships attract new customers outside of the local area and better help them to move inventory off their lots. 

Ford says its internal data show that since the inception of FordBlueAdvantage.com, traffic to the site is up 500% over the prior Certified Pre-Owned site, while Ford certified used vehicle sales rose by 26% in 2021.

"The Ford Blue Advantage platform provides the opportunity to build long-term relationships with our customers by offering the peace of mind of a certified used vehicle, a comprehensive warranty and the power of FordPass Rewards points – Ford's industry-leading loyalty program," said Andrew Frick, Ford vice president of sales, U.S. and Canada.

Ford Blue Benefits

All of the Ford Blue Advantage vehicles include additional warranty coverage that's backed by Ford to give customers additional piece of mind in case any unexpected repairs are needed in the future. With the ability to now certify vehicles under the Gold or Blue level, Ford says that participating dealers can cover up to 90% of their used-vehicle inventory with one of these plans.

Newer and more premium Gold Certified vehicles pass a 172-point inspection and come with a 12-month or 12,000-mile comprehensive limited warranty and a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty. 

Blue Certified vehicles, which include those less than ten years old and fewer than 120,000 miles, receive a 139-point inspection. Blue Certified vehicles come with 90-day or 4,000-mile comprehensive limited warranty coverage. 

This level allows dealers to certify both Ford and non-Ford vehicles up to 10 years and at less than 120,000 miles, according to Ford.

Both Gold and Blue level vehicles come with 24/7 roadside assistance and complimentary FordPass Rewards points that customers can redeem for future service visits or vehicle purchases at dealerships. Buyers will receive 11,000 points on the purchase of a Blue Certified vehicle and 22,000 rewards points for a Gold Certified model. 

In addition, Ford runs a CARFAX Vehicle History Report on every Gold and Blue Certified used vehicle to ensure it meets rigorous Ford Blue Advantage standards. CARFAX collects repair data, so owners are made aware and can avoid vehicles that were in accidents or had a salvage title before being put back on the market.

Although many Ford dealers' lots have been largely empty due to the high demand right now for pre owned vehicles, the platform is being launched shortly before the busy spring car buying season, which will likely see many consumers trading in older models when purchasing a new vehicle.

FutureCar Staff