I bought a 9 month-old Modeo Zetec in July and been very pleased with it.

One marginal reason for getting it was the Ford heated screen. I had no reason to use it until a few weeks ago , and then found it was clearing only one side ( passenger). So I took it to my local Ford dealer and requested a fix under warranty. They diagnosed a blown fuse, which is not covered, and I had to pay £33.

When the current cold snap started I used it again, only to find the same problem. Back to the Ford dealer, who spent time testing all the electrics, and said a new screen was needed. However because of a tiny stone chip ( not near the element) they thought Ford would refuse it and I had to go through a rigmarole of speaking to Ford customer service, getting photos of the windscreen, etc.

Now the Ford dealer has realised the screen is not a Ford screen.Presumably it was replaced during the first few months and the windscreen co fitted a Pilkingtons, not Ford, screen. So there is no possibility of Ford covering it under warranty.

So I have now gone back to the supplying garage, who, to their credit, are arranging a new Ford screen for me.

So a word of warning- if you have a broken Ford screen, tell the windscreen replacer you must have a Ford screen, not a generic.

These screens , I understand, can cost over £500.