Dealer won't pay for DMF failure on a new Focus - what can we do?
I have a Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost with 5888 miles on the clock. I purchased the car 12 months ago, but it has spent the past three months at the dealer with a clutch failure. We previously reported to the garage (several times) there was a strange noise coming from the engine which worsened over a six month period.
The car was taken into the garage for diagnosis and was driven by a master engineer, but no fault was identified (or explanation given) and we were told not to worry about it. Shortly after this the car broke down and the clutch and DMF were found to be burnt out. The garage has said this is driver error and as a result is not covered by warranty.
This is the fifth Ford Focus we have bought from the same garage in the last 10 years (three new/two low mileage) with no previous problems. This is why we are adamant that this cannot be driver error. What else can we do?
The car was taken into the garage for diagnosis and was driven by a master engineer, but no fault was identified (or explanation given) and we were told not to worry about it. Shortly after this the car broke down and the clutch and DMF were found to be burnt out. The garage has said this is driver error and as a result is not covered by warranty.
This is the fifth Ford Focus we have bought from the same garage in the last 10 years (three new/two low mileage) with no previous problems. This is why we are adamant that this cannot be driver error. What else can we do?
Asked on 11 March 2015 by LD, Burgess Hill
Answered by
Honest John
This is the sixth report I have received of this on Focus 1.0 EcoBoosts, which suggests a problem that Ford cannot brush off. Another reader is fighting Ford very hard over this. You have already seen www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/ford/focus-2011/?sec.../ to which I am about to add your case. I advise you to tell the supplying dealer that you will be taking the matter to the small claims track of the county court using the previous cases as evidence that this is not an isolated instance and that you are not the only victim.
Ford will continue to attempt to resist, but will eventually be forced to give in. Tell the supplying dealer to fix your car, collect the faulty DMF and clutch as evidence and point out to the supplying dealer that you will sue for the full invoiced cost of the work.
Ford will continue to attempt to resist, but will eventually be forced to give in. Tell the supplying dealer to fix your car, collect the faulty DMF and clutch as evidence and point out to the supplying dealer that you will sue for the full invoiced cost of the work.
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