We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

New Ford Focus Problems! Updated

Desperado99
Desperado99 Posts: 1,195 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
edited 14 October 2010 at 6:03PM in Motoring
Hi all,

Bought a Ford Focus (10 Plate) in june this year, and we've had nothing but problems with it.

It's already been back to the dealer re: problems starting (but as it's intermittent they couldn't find anything).

Today, the indicators are playing up (it is constantly indicating right:eek:) and therefore not safe to be driven. It's going in to be looked at Monday am, but my question is, what are our rights as consumers? (Obviously it's under warranty). I just have a niggly feeling that we're in this for the long haul. :(
«1

Comments

  • Strider590
    Strider590 Posts: 11,874 Forumite
    edited 9 October 2010 at 11:34AM
    Buy a new car, they're more reliable....

    Oh you did sorry!


    I think you may have the right to refuse the car based in it not being fit for purpose, im sure someone else will be along shortly who knows more on this.
    “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”

    <><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><> Don't forget to like and subscribe \/ \/ \/
  • Do the later Fords have them stupid soft touch indicators like Vauxchall and BMW's? If so, they take a bit of getting used too...

    You cant really complain too much as it is under warranty so will be fixed free of charge.

    What are the problems with the starting?
  • Kilty_2
    Kilty_2 Posts: 5,818 Forumite
    They still have "proper" indicators IIRC.

    Was it brand new when you bought it or ex-fleet?
  • Desperado99
    Desperado99 Posts: 1,195 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    Kilty wrote: »
    They still have "proper" indicators IIRC.

    Was it brand new when you bought it or ex-fleet?

    Brand new (with proper indicators)

    Re: Starting, Every now and then it just really struggles to start (sort of chugs a bit for a few secs and will then fire up) Oh course when it went in to be checked it behaved itself. (We now have a book in the car to write down every time it does it).

    It's in with a different dealer on monday (the original dealers couldn't get us in til Thursday) Will just have to see what they find.
  • ukjoel
    ukjoel Posts: 1,468 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I find videoing the problem if possible can be a good idea.

    Most phones have video cams in them now.

    When you take the car in ask to show the video to the person who will be working on your car. They probably wont let you and will palm you off with the controller but if nothing else it makes them aware your serious and will not be fobbed off with a fault not found return after the tech spends less than a minute on the car.

    Due to the abysmally small amount of time techs get for diagnostics on warranty, fault not found often means, fault not looked for very hard.
  • Kilty_2
    Kilty_2 Posts: 5,818 Forumite
    Bunting wrote: »
    Re: Starting, Every now and then it just really struggles to start (sort of chugs a bit for a few secs and will then fire up) Oh course when it went in to be checked it behaved itself. .

    Is it petrol?

    My Astra did this occasionally, was told it could be the crankshaft position sensor.
  • Desperado99
    Desperado99 Posts: 1,195 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    ukjoel wrote: »
    I find videoing the problem if possible can be a good idea.

    Most phones have video cams in them now.

    When you take the car in ask to show the video to the person who will be working on your car. They probably wont let you and will palm you off with the controller but if nothing else it makes them aware your serious and will not be fobbed off with a fault not found return after the tech spends less than a minute on the car.

    Due to the abysmally small amount of time techs get for diagnostics on warranty, fault not found often means, fault not looked for very hard.

    That is an excellent idea, I will keep that in mind :T

    It's a petrol engine, The garage initially thought it might be to do with the immobiliser.
  • Desperado99
    Desperado99 Posts: 1,195 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    Update:

    It's been at the garage today (and has, typically, behaved itself)

    They have spoken to Ford, who have told them that sometimes water gets in through the wing mirrors and causes electrical faults (lovely). They tried spraying it with water but nothing happened.

    They have told us to bring it in immediately if (more like when) it does it again.
  • BillTrac
    BillTrac Posts: 1,869 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Kilty wrote: »
    They still have "proper" indicators IIRC.

    Focus has "proper" indicators when a longer spell if indicating is required, but also have a "dab" indicate, where you just dab the indicator in the direction you wish to indicate and they flash three/four times
  • Kilty_2
    Kilty_2 Posts: 5,818 Forumite
    BillTrac wrote: »
    Focus has "proper" indicators when a longer spell if indicating is required, but also have a "dab" indicate, where you just dab the indicator in the direction you wish to indicate and they flash three/four times

    Ah okay, same as VAG then. Nice.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 347.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 251.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 451.8K Spending & Discounts
  • 239.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 615.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.1K Life & Family
  • 252.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.