I’m sorry to hear about this, there’s really no excuse for this kind of fückery here.
First, you’re not 9 days from triggering the lemon law. Read the VA law carefully (at least the last time I checked) having a provided loaner does not permit the days the loaner is provided to count against the >31 day threshold. Unless of course you’re paying for the Hertz car...
Second, after filing suit, the manufacturer gets one final repair attempt and you can absolutely guarantee that their counsel will show up with the part in hand for that repair. This is the only circumstance in which the mfgr. will ‘cannibalize’ a completed vehicle, because their counsel cost several hundred dollars per hour, and for each engagement they have with you it costs them hourly rate at a minimum, which, when combined with travel, lodging and other expenses will be several times the cost of the part. And, all they have to do is provide a marginally working part - they could actually install a previously failed part, so long as it powers up and hope for the best, but likely they would find a known working example, hand deliver it to the stealership and your suit is then mooted when the repair is completed.
This leaves you out the money paid to your counsel and any collateral expenses.
Third, it’s inconceivable that there are simply no ‘gateway modules’ available for the truck. We’re 3 years past china-virus. While the dealer is technically correct that the buy back is out of their hands, finding the part is NOT out of their hands. Tell the service manager you’d like them to do a search of all dealership inventory - they can do this - to see if one of the parts departments can lay hands on one and if so, deliver it to you immediately. Ford reimburses that dealer for the part as I understand it; the point is, your dealer probably just called looking for the part, to which Ford always responds : “sorry, that part is on national back order”. It’s been that way with any major Raptor part since 2017. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a dealership, or salvage yard with one available that works.
Tell your dealer to exhaust every possible source for the part, including 3rd party or salvage parts. at this point, WTF cares where it comes from as long as it works. You may need to “help” them. You shouldn’t have to but you may need to if you want the truck back. Get the part number and start digging.
You could see if they have an acceptable trade on the lot as well.
The lemon law suit should be your absolute last alternative because once you file suit, everything you do at the stealership network is under scrutiny. Everything. Even routine service will be stalled until a regional rep can be onsite. Every time your truck is brought in, it’s scrutinized for any sign of abuse, neglect, or parts installed that could potentially be used as evidence in the lawsuit, no matter how insignificant. They’re looking for anything that could convince a jury that it wasn’t a defective truck but you caused the problem. It doesn’t matter how preposterous the assertion is, they only have to convince a jury. EX.: “Look, this owner is an absolute extremist with SEVEN forward facing aftermarket lights. How is he using these lights in Virginia where there are no off road venues and certainly not at night? No, this user is an abusive, aggressive driver who carelessly and negligently modified their vehicle with all manner of aftermarket equipment, possibly creating EMF and destroying the gateway module!”
Of course, that’s complete bûllshit, but all they have to do is present enough evidence to a jury to convince them you had some part in the failure.
OR they have the stealership pour through your records to see if you’ve neglected to service some part or check some item. Of course, with a truck as young as yours, that’s unlikely, but if you file suit, this is what you can expect.
Good luck, I hope your dealer will be more helpful going forward and the repair is completed soon.
