A car breakdown can happen out of the blue and can present various challenges, such as a flat tire or your car running out of gas. A roadside assistance service can put your mind at ease with services like towing, tire changes, and jump starts when you find yourself on the side of the road. Ford provides roadside assistance for your Ford vehicles during out-of-the-blue car trouble. Read on to find out about Ford roadside assistance and what services it provides.
Ford Company Overview
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker, which designs, manufactures, markets, and services automobiles and trucks. Ford also provides vehicle financing services along with 24/7 roadside assistance for seven years in Gold Certified vehicles and 90 days with Blue Certified vehicles. The roadside assistance service is available throughout all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico.
What Is Roadside Assistance?
A roadside assistance plan provides on-the-ground assistance in the event of a vehicle breakdown. It differs from a manufacturer’s warranty and car insurance policy. Most warranties cover the repair or replacement of malfunctioning parts but don’t offer lockout assistance or flat tire change. The same goes for basic car insurance policies that cover only the cost of repairing damage caused by an accident but don’t cover roadside services.
Roadside assistance plans are often available as add-ons to your insurance or vehicle manufacturer’s service. In fact, it can help you mitigate the cost of unexpected car breakdowns. There are several ways you can opt for a roadside assistance plan. Some of them include:
- Use the free roadside coverage your car manufacturer offers you when you buy a new car
- Insure your car with your insurance company
- Check with your credit card company to see if they include roadside assistance
What Does Ford Roadside Assistance Include?
The Ford Service Roadside Assistance plan is an add-on cover and trusted ally for your Ford vehicle. It’s available on all Ford models made after 2007 for five years or 60,000 miles driven, whichever comes first. You can select one of the Ford Protect Extended Service Plans like BaseCare, PowertrainCare, ExtraCare, and PremiumCare after crossing the warranty milestone. The services will still be available to you after the factory warranty expires by paying a one-time service fee.
There is also Ford Roadside Assistance available for Ford vehicles with model years between 1998 and 2006, but the term is much shorter at three years or 36,000 miles. You can use the FordPass app to access the services.
The services offered by Ford for roadside assistance include:
Flat Tire
A flat tire can leave your vehicle immobilized. A roadside assistance technician can help you change the punctured tire if you’ve got a spare one, or tow your vehicle for tire change service. You can also schedule a service appointment with Ford to get a replacement.
Dead Battery
Car breakdowns are common due to dead batteries. This can happen due to inadvertently leaving your car lights on, regularly driving only short distances, and bad electrical connections. They can help jump-start your vehicle if your 12-volt starter battery runs out of charge.
In your car is a Ford electric vehicle, you can reach out to Ford EV Roadside Assistance for a tow to the nearest public charger, a Ford EV-certified dealer, or your home if you are able to charge there. There is a 35-mile limit to this particular towing service.
Fuel Delivery
Ran out of fuel? During a road trip, you can coordinate with Ford roadside assistance to send someone to your location if your car runs out of gas. You get 2 gallons of gasoline or 5 gallons of diesel fuel. It will be enough to get you to a local gas station so you can refuel. Ford limits the fuel delivery to twice per year.
Winch Out
Winching is a common method to recover a stranded vehicle. Ford provides reliable and prompt winch services where a Ford service professional can retrieve your vehicle from the side of the road if you’re stranded within hundred feet of a paved or county-maintained road.
Lock Out
The roadside assistance service can help you unlock your car door if you’ve lost your key, had it stolen, or are locked out. The same applies to electric vehicles as well. You’ll need to bear the fee for a locksmith if you require a spare key.
Complimentary Towing
You can make use of Ford towing services if roadside assistance cannot repair your car on the spot and it needs to be taken for servicing. The plan tows up to 35 miles or to the nearest Ford dealership. You are responsible for any mileage above this distance.
How Can Ford Users Contact Ford Roadside Assistance?
You can contact Ford customer service at 800-241-3673 and provide the following details:
- Your location
- License plate number
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- The make, color, and model of your car
There’s nothing worse than a car breakdown when you’re on the road. Ford Roadside Assistance takes care of this and helps you save on hefty repairs. Remember to be safe while driving and set aside money for an emergency car repair fund.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
