My leased Vehicle Keeps Breaking Down

Bish123

Hi,

I have a new Ford Transit Custom on Lease that's covered 1,900 miles. It has broken down 27 times, yes 27. It is always the same problem, the brakes stick on. I can normally resolve the problem myself by restarting the van and pumping the brake pedal really hard. On the occasions I can't the AA have been out to it, it's been in to a Ford Van Centre twice. The brake problem is not constant but fortunately on it's last visit it broke down twice whilst being driven by the Van Centre Technicians who through fault diagnosis replaced some pedal switches and said it was fixed. I collected it on Saturday and it broke down again after 7 miles. I know if the vehicle was my own and after being in the van Centre three times without being fixed I can legally reject it, well it's going back in to the Van Centre again this week for the third time but my leasing company who in fairness have been reasonably helpful say I can't terminate the leasing agreement with them and get my upfront costs back if this visit doesn't fix it. I'm given a replacement vehicle on each visit but my leased vehicle has specialised racking so I struggle without it.

Do I have any options here or do I have to let my leasing company battle it out with Ford UK? Ford UK have been nothing short of appalling when ever I or the leasing company speak to them so I guess it will be a long battle.

Thank you.

flashg67

Have they raised a technical case with Ford - this is the only way the manufacturer gets to know about these problems. All I can say is that you're not the only one - likely needs a new brake module from what I've heard about this fault

Bish123

Yes the Van Centre has raised the issue with Ford UK, response though has been that my van is the only one with such a problem. They won't let the Van Centre replace anything without providing a fault code and the technician thinks there possibly isn't a fault code for this problem.

I need a reliable working van and hey vehicles do sometimes go wrong and you'd hope that Ford would step up and sort it but they've stuck two fingers up with this one. I guess this is one of the downsides of leasing.

System

There most likely will be a fault code but it may not be one that can simply be read with an OBDII code reader and needs either the proper job or someone running something like Forscan.

AdrianC

The brake issue has shown itself 27 times in 1,900 miles - that's every 70 miles on average. Throw the keys at the dealer, and insist that they use it themselves until the problem is found and demonstrably fixed. Sure, you'll get it back with a few hundred extra miles on, but it's the only way to diagnose it properly.

They should be able to provide a loan vehicle in the interim. Get the finance company involved, too.

loskie

Of course the lease co has a responsibility here possibly more so than Ford. You should be chasing them as hard if not harder than ford. they (lease co) will be the ones in breach of contract.