Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Tue 26 May 2015 23:23
Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please - NYSoul

Hello, new here and need some advice please.

My friends father (who is 82) purchased a 2011 Ford Focus 1.6 Sport from a Main Ford Dealer

After owning it for 3 weeks he noticed the lights weren't turning off in the daytime (he was using them in automatic mode) This happened a couple of times and he booked it back in at the garage he bought it from to be checked. A day later he drove to the shops and when he pulled back up at the care home he lives at noticed the lights were on again. He stood there for a few moments wondering if they would go out and when they didn't he decided to open the bonnet. He was met with smoke coming from the passenger side. He walked to his care home reception and they called the fire brigade, by the time he returned to car it was completely ablaze. The car was just over 3 years old so I am guessing Ford's warranty has run out. The car had 8080 miles on it when he purchased it from the Main Ford Dealers, he covered less than 200 miles in it during the 3 weeks he owned it. The dealers are telling him to claim on his insurance who are offering him £2900 less than he paid for the car. Other than telling him to claim on his insurance they are not really saying anything. Should it not be covered under a used car warranty? My friend and their father feel like they are being treated badly and I agree. Not really sure what to do though, have you guys got any advice?

Edited by NYSoul on 26/05/2015 at 23:25

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 27 May 2015 00:15
Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please - elekie&a/c doctor

I would get in touch with Ford head office/customer services.I am sure they would be very interested in a case like this to establish the cause of the fire.There could be an underlying issue that may affect other similar cars.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 27 May 2015 00:33
Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please - RobJP

Where Ford GB may be interested, it is not a warranty matter, but a matter for his insurance. I'd expect if it was a major fault, then we'd have heard of hundreds (if not thousands) of Focuses (Focii ?) going on fire, and it would be a major issue on here.

Quite simply, if the insurance offer is too low, it is up to him to reject that offer, providing details of why it is too low (similar cars for sale with similar mileage, etc), and suggesting a more realistic price.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 27 May 2015 10:29
Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please - slkfanboy

Insurance is the way forward as that is why you purchased it. I had a car stolen after 3 months and got nearly full value via directline.

The route i would go is to find like for like cars at a main dealers. i.e. 2011 focus with around 8000 miles on the clock and send details to the insurance company. Not just the most expensive examples either. Don't any trade values as your not trading in the car and are not planning too either.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 27 May 2015 11:04
Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please - Hamsafar

Go through the insurer, if their legal team think they can get anything back from anyone such as the seller, they will ask the policy holder to sign a form agreeing to the possibility of attending court and make statements etc.. but I doubt they will unless there is evidence of some failing by them.

Are you sure the lights aren't meant to stay on as daytime running lights?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 27 May 2015 11:30
Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please - pd

The car did not depreciate £2900 in 3 weeks. Assuming he paid normal retail price the insurance company should put him back in the position he was before the fire and pay the full value of the car.

Go through insurance and insist on the full value of the car (less any excess obviously).

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 27 May 2015 14:54
Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please - Andrew-T

Even though the original warranty may have expired, surely a 2011 car bought from a main dealer would have come with some warranty extension?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 27 May 2015 16:02
Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please - RobJP

Even though the original warranty may have expired, surely a 2011 car bought from a main dealer would have come with some warranty extension?

THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE

It is an insurance issue. That is all.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 28 May 2015 00:31
Ford Focus - Up in smoke.... Some advice please - Andrew-T

Even though the original warranty may have expired, surely a 2011 car bought from a main dealer would have come with some warranty extension?

THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE

I wasn't suggesting otherwise, merely putting the question. There's no need to shout.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link