Update: No resolution in sight for wrecked Bronco, over three months later.

[Lord Bronco]

I think this is your best option right now. Obviously, you're probably all out of patience, but that's the only path you have. I'd take the repaired Bronco and live my life, at least you'll still have that beautiful AMB color so many aren't able to get. Enjoy the heck out of it and chalk it up to a learning experience dealing with backed up traffic (which I hate and don't care to deal with). Good luck getting it back quickly.

Yep. I know it is silly, but the I was depressed last night about the prospect of no longer having it. It's the most perfectly suited vehicle I've ever had. Wouldn't change a single option. Before I got it, my daughters said, "ugh why would you want that?" Yesterday when I told them I might be able to get it fixed or replaced--after experiencing the Bronco for several months--they were very upset.

Sponsored

 

[Deleted member 19381]

Advertise it for sale...you should get at least 75K for it...lol. Glad no one got hurt.

 

[TX-Hans]

Not what I said. Fuck the insurance company. My principles are that I refuse to pay a dealer $25k over MSRP using ANYONE's money. Also, newsflash: insurance ain't paying some fantasy actual current market value with ADM.

Sounds like your insurer is working with the shop and you to extend the rental and get it repaired. Usually, totaling a vehicle comes down to whether it's repairable and at what cost versus its market value. Sometimes, once they start repairs they find hidden damage that results in a change of decision to be totaled and other times it is close enough the carrier moves forward with making a supplemental payment for repair. It's a fluid situation.

If it ends up being totaled, make sure you understand what you are entitled to under your insurance policy's collision portion. Most auto insurance policies are worded that the insurer will pay the market value of the car if it is deemed a total loss. Prior to recent market craziness, that meant you often got less than what paid for it because cars depreciated quickly going out the door of the dealer. Right now, the situation is completely different...and market value of autos may be higher than you paid for it at the dealer (assuming you didn't have excessive mileage or other pre-existing damage). Market value is willing buyer and willing seller reaching an agreed upon price in the open, free market place based upon the mileage, condition of vehicle, etc. It is not what some Blue Book or NADA book says as those are outdated right now. Right now, for Broncos (and a number of other cars), the market value (what is being paid by willing buyers and accepted by willing sellers) is higher than MSRP (and likely higher than what you paid your dealer). Be sure to get what you're entitled to if you end up doing a total loss settlement.

 

[NotApplicable]

This whole story just isn’t that unusual. Timelines are delayed due to supply chain/COVID, but even before that, parts availability has always been iffy for first model year vehicles needing repair… in the first year.

Overall it sounds like a very run-of-the-mill crash/insurance/repair experience, modulo some slightly extended timelines. Nothing really to see here.

 

[Lord Bronco]

It probably would be considered a total if based on MSRP value and not current market value.

 

[Lord Bronco]

Enterprise called today to say the rental coverage is used up, and to bring the car back today. Bronco still waiting for frame extenders they didn't order until a week ago.

The frame isn't actually damaged. There are frame extenders that slide into the front end of the frame and connect to the bumper. Those are bent. They identified this back when they first looked at it but evidently by the time they tried to start work was the first time they remembered and ordered the part. And the kid at the front desk miscommunicated to me last week that the frame was damaged.

 

[Lord Bronco]

Not sure what state you're in, but check your Department of Insurance regulations for responding to first party insureds. It's often 5-10 working days.

While not your new adjuster's responsibility, it could be worth mentioning that you are willing to file a DOI complaint over their lack of response and ask for additional loss of use or rental reimbursement.

Insurance companies generally hate having to respond to DOI complaint inquiries.

Good luck!

Now that my rental coverage is maxed and they refuse to extend it, I'm tempted to file a complaint since they didn't respond to me for about five weeks after they didn't bother telling me the original insurer left. But at this point, why? To get reimbursement for out-of-pocket rental costs? I do not plan to incur such costs in the first place. My wife's car last year was totaled by a freakishly unusual hail storm and it took six weeks before they finally declared it a total loss. In the meantime, rental coverage ran out and I had to pay out of pocket. Never got reimbursed.

I live less than three miles from work. I'll walk before I pay anyone a single dime beyond the deductible.

 

[Lord Bronco]

Aaaaand, it continues to be a comedy. See latest wrinkle below in blue.

Early last week, after finally learning my original adjuster had left the company, I found my new adjuster and finally got him to reply to me on a few questions, including how much I had left before I maxed out the $1,500 limit for the rental. He replied by email last week (3/22) and told me the rental was extended to 3/28. Today. Which is also when Enterprise called me (this morning). So I told them I would be bringing it back today and do not plan to extend it out of my own pocket.

Then called my adjuster to ask if they can cover an extension, since the shop has not even begun the repairs yet. He referred me to a "specialist" at the insurance company who told me nah, the limit in my policy is $1,500, nothing they can do, and if I would like more coverage next time, talk to my sales agent. I told him that the policy probably also requires them to reply to my fucking calls and emails sooner than ... never (the original adjuster left, nobody told me, and I got no responses for about fire weeks, and if he/they had, things might have moved along a little faster). He said he was sorry about that but tough shit, basically.

Shortly after speaking with Enterprise, the adjuster, and the "specialist," a $116 charge appeared on the credit card Enterprise has on file.

Enterprise said I reached the $1,500 limit early last week, and this was an overage charge for my use since then. Left messages for adjuster and the "specialist" at the insurance company. No response yet. Despite their email that either was (1) confirmation that the rental was covered until today or (2) a miscommunication by them that they should pay for, I guarantee they are going to tell me tough shit and leave me hanging with the overage. I also told Enterprise what I thought about their not contacting me before the coverage ran out to let me know it would switch to out-of-pocket. The best they could offer was to make the transaction "pending" for 24 hours while I wait to hear back from the insurer, who, like I said, will probably tell me tough shit.

I turned the car in and refuse to pay a dime out of pocket. It's been exactly two months since I filed my claim. I'm now borrowing a friend's Wrangler and do not like to do so (no, not a hater; I love Jeeps, but I feel like a bum borrowing it--but do not feel bad enough to pay out of pocket for a Chevy Malibu I'm sick of driving anyway).

I would switch insurance after this, but I am sure they are all about the same.

 

[7.3ltr bronco]

What insurance company do you have?

 

[Lord Bronco]

What insurance company do you have?

Safeco/Liberty Mutual

 

[Lord Bronco]

Shop told me two Fridays ago they finally received the last part (the second frame extender) and would begin work Monday, May 29 and would take about two weeks. Finally a finish line of roughly the end of this week. Today, I called to check in, and they said it looks like a three-week repair from today. They haven't started even working on it. Said they are still "measuring" the frame extenders to be careful since it's the first new Bronco they've had and is "so expensive."

I'm about about to harass the insurer to please declare the damn thing a total so I can move on with a Jeep or whatever. 19 weeks since wreck. I've had it. Heartbreaking to give up on my dream truck, but I've simply had enough.

I have no faith anymore in any timeline projection nor in their ability fix it correctly. Beyond the just emotional aspect of wanting my Bronco back, I simply need a fucking vehicle.

Or could I sell the wreck and for how much? So far, I've missed the spring weather and now it's hot here.

Yes, I know if hadn't wrecked it, I wouldn't have all this to deal with. But my punishment for my stupidity expired many weeks ago. This is absurd. I've made FOUR car payments since it's been in the shop.

To those of you still waiting for delivery of your Bronco, I advise you not to even drive it when you get it. Even if you're careful and someone else hits you, it's over.

 

[Lord Bronco]

Safeco initially IMMEDIATELY tentatively predicted it to be a total loss which means they instantly decided the types of damaged items would cost more than $40k to fix or either couldn't be fixed safely. And then the shop which had never worked in one before says nah nah we can fix it for $17k. I bet they finally realized they were waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off, having never reviewed a new Bronco before, and should have called it a total three months ago and now don't know what to do or say next other than "um, it will take three weeks. We are measuring parts to be careful."

I had resolved several weeks ago to just be patient and accept it's out of my control until it's fixed. I think my patience is now gone. And yet I know there isn't a thing I can do but just let them fuck me.

 

[Lord Bronco]

4.5 months later, still in the shop. If they had declared it a total, I could have ordered and received a new one by now.

 

[Lord Bronco]

Update: Five months later, still in the shop. Every time they have estimated it would be ready in a week or two, they suddenly realize they need additional parts they had not already ordered.

New price when I got the Bronco was about $40,000. Initial estimate to repair was about $19,000, so it wasn't declared a total, since it wasn't at least 70% the value of the truck (which would be around $28,000). Currently, the supplemented repair estimate is up to $24,793. So, I'll end up--at some unknown time, if ever--with a patched-up essentially totaled fucking janky Bronco that should have been totaled--back when I still would have been able to order a new one and, based on posts I've seen from others who ordered around that time, I'd have gotten it by now!

I'm so pessimistic about the quality of the Bronco once "repaired" that I had resolved to just sell it and get a Gladiator and move on, but I was laid off a month ago in a corporate "restructuring" and now wouldn't be able to finance anything else due to not having a job.

Fuck Safeco.

 

[Lord Bronco]

July 20: Close to six months in, still in the body shop while I see posts online of people who ordered a Bronco after my wreck and have received them. I could have done the same if the insurer had declared mine a total loss.

Sure, part of the delay is the delay in parts coming, as is the rule for everyone. But time and again, the shop--which had never worked on one of these before--failed to order necessary parts on the front end and at points since them, then realized it, and ordered them mid-way. So, it's been one several-weeks delay after another.

And it's still possible the insurer could call this one "totaled" after all this time, in which case I'm screwed big.

Meanwhile, I have made six payments on the Bronco, all based on the loan amount for a brand-new vehicle. Two of those payments I've made since being laid off of my job. No job, no Bronco.

Sponsored