Gearbox Failed on Ford Focus should Ford pay?

MrNiceGuy_007

Hello,
About 3 and a half years ago my partner bought a Ford Focus 2015 1.6TDCi with 38k on the clock from a Ford dealership (5 year HP).
Two days ago the gearbox failed at 83k miles and now its costing £1780 for a Recon gearbox, Clutch and Flywheel.
I paid (not partner) the finance off earlier using a 0% credit card last year to save money on the interest rate.
What are my/her rights? 
Thanks

wongataa

Your options are paying for a replacement gearbox or getting rid of the car.  Why would anyone else be required to pay?

MrNiceGuy_007

because we live in a world full of loopholes and exploits. 

AdrianC

MrNiceGuy_007 said:

About 3 and a half years ago my partner bought a Ford Focus 2015 1.6TDCi with 38k on the clock from a Ford dealership (5 year HP).
Two days ago the gearbox failed at 83k miles and now its costing £1780 for a Recon gearbox, Clutch and Flywheel.
I paid (not partner) the finance off earlier using a 0% credit card last year to save money on the interest rate.
What are my/her rights? 

You've covered 45k miles in the 3.5yrs you've owned it, and you expect the vendor to cover the cost?

Seriously...?

Not. A. Hope.

MinuteNoodles

9 year old car with 83k on the clock when Ford only warranty cars to 3 years/60,000 miles I'm guessing your chances are somewhere between nil and none. Clutch might have been on its way out anyway at 83k as anywhere from 70k onwards is where they can go depending on what kind of driving you do, the more urban driving the lower mileage you'll get from a clutch.

More importantly is who is telling you the gearbox is gone? You'd not know for certain until it was taken off. The rattling sound can be caused by the dual mass flywheel or remnants of clutch plate if it went bang, not being able to get it into gear can be caused by a faulty clutch. A few weeks ago one of our lorries in the yard started to not be able to get into gears. Mechanics drove it around for a little and then it wouldn't go into reverse and eventually stuck in one gear, it was the clutch.

AdrianC

MinuteNoodles said:

9 year old car 

I know it's all gone a bit Blursday since lockdown started, but I can promise you we ARE still in 2020, hence a 2015 car is only 5yo.

MrNiceGuy_007

MinuteNoodles said:

9 year old car with 83k on the clock when Ford only warranty cars to 3 years/60,000 miles I'm guessing your chances are somewhere between nil and none. Clutch might have been on its way out anyway at 83k as anywhere from 70k onwards is where they can go depending on what kind of driving you do, the more urban driving the lower mileage you'll get from a clutch.

More importantly is who is telling you the gearbox is gone? You'd not know for certain until it was taken off. The rattling sound can be caused by the dual mass flywheel or remnants of clutch plate if it went bang, not being able to get it into gear can be caused by a faulty clutch. A few weeks ago one of our lorries in the yard started to not be able to get into gears. Mechanics drove it around for a little and then it wouldn't go into reverse and eventually stuck in one gear, it was the clutch.

You don't need to take off a gearbox to determine its failed. Ill leave it at that.

MrNiceGuy_007 said:

About 3 and a half years ago my partner bought a Ford Focus 2015 1.6TDCi with 38k on the clock from a Ford dealership (5 year HP).
Two days ago the gearbox failed at 83k miles and now its costing £1780 for a Recon gearbox, Clutch and Flywheel.
I paid (not partner) the finance off earlier using a 0% credit card last year to save money on the interest rate.
What are my/her rights? 

You've covered 45k miles in the 3.5yrs you've owned it, and you expect the vendor to cover the cost?

Seriously...?

Not. A. Hope.

worth a shot :P

AdrianC said:

MinuteNoodles said:

9 year old car 

I know it's all gone a bit Blursday since lockdown started, but I can promise you we ARE still in 2020, hence a 2015 car is only 5yo.

lol!

treeroy

If this was a couple of years ago it would be different but as the car is out of warranty, Ford has no obligation to pay for a new gearbox.
My gearbox went bang at 20,000 miles on my Fiesta, fortunately it was still under warranty so didnt cost me anything.
The ball is in your court unfortunately so it's time for you to make a decision on what to do with the car  
I would go to your local independent garage and get a quote by the way, will likely be cheaper than £1800!

Not sure why you think they would pay for it, you bought a used car and its out of warranty...

AdrianC

MrNiceGuy_007 said:

You don't need to take off a gearbox to determine its failed. Ill leave it at that.

There's a hole in the side?

Because, that apart, it could well simply be clutch. Even if the drainplug looks like a christmas tree, that could be simple ham-footedness in the face of a failing clutch.

Jack_Cork

AdrianC said:

MrNiceGuy_007 said:

You don't need to take off a gearbox to determine its failed. Ill leave it at that.

There's a hole in the side?

You could use an endoscope

CasualBagger

wongataa said:

Your options are paying for a replacement gearbox or getting rid of the car.  Why would anyone else be required to pay?

Because the UK Consumer Rights Act states that products must be of satisfactory quality. 

There is always a case to be made that the manufacturer is on the line for fixing something if it breaks too quickly - yes, even a Ford.