Ask to speak to a supervisor.
Get a copy of that check from your bank with the date it was presented for payment and send that to Ford if they want to be so hard nosed.
You know what irks me with creditors? They screw up too and all you get is an "oops, sorry", but when you do it...........the sky gets dark, the wind blows, the storm clouds form, a cat. 5 hurricane comes in from the south and you're left without power and whole lotta damage that you have to fix. My father sent a money order for $200 on a JC Penney account, the bastards keyed in $20 and tried to get him, charged him with all sorts of fees. (venting again......sorry)
I would not let this one go without a fight. Especially since from what you said, it seems like something got messed up somewhere.