Common Ford Faults

In terms of common problems Ford is no different than other manufacturers and monitors problems closely and recalls cars for repairs and replacements of parts. Sometimes if a problem is found it may lead to a recall of the affected models during which Ford will offer a solution to the problem found.

Apart from repairs that may be needed from time to time it is of course good to bear in mind that the lifespan of Fords and its parts can be extended if the car is taken well care of with regular servicing. That means, if the car is serviced according to Ford's stipulations you will find that your car runs better for longer. Practically things that can be done to prevent wear and deterioration on your Ford is proper lubrication of moving parts and making sure serviceable items like the air filter are regularly replaced. It will mean that related components are also better protected from wear.

Fiesta

With the Fiesta now in its sixth generation it is perhaps no surprise that over it's long lifetime there have been a couple of recalls. For example, in the early 90s a couple of high-end Fiestas of the XR2i and RS1800 varieties suffered from a brake pipe failure caused by pipes that were not of the correct specification, vibration led to the eventual failure of half the braking system. Of course Ford acted promptly and replaced the brake pipes. [R/1993/047] It was found in a later generation of Diesel-engine Fiesta that on some occasions water can enter the Glow Plug Control Module during wet conditions, as it was not waterproof. In a more major recall affected models were refitted with a waterproof unit, as on occasions the old unit could overheat and catch fire due to the water ingress. [R/2014/102 / FORD 4C564]

Focus

The Ford Focus was the successor to the Ford Escort, introduced at the end of the 90s. Early models suffered some teething problems, for example some suffered from an issue with the alternator. The regulator was found to be problematic; some could fail leading to the alternator overheating. As such, affected vehicles were fitted with a new regulator. [R/1999/051] Another recall campaign was launched for a problem with the rear wheel hub, it was found that some models built over a two month period in 2007 were fitted with retaining bolts that were found to be inadequate and could loosen up. Affected vehicles were fitted with new bolts to stop the problem from occurring. [R/2008/045 / Ford ref. 7C160]

Mondeo

Ford's classic family car and executive saloon has been around for many years, introduced as the successor to the Ford Sierra. A minor problem was identified in 1994 on models built from October 1992 through to July 1993 in that the headlamp could go out due to a fault in the headlamp switch. Ford took action on affected models by replacing the switch where necessary. [R/1994/038] Some newer Mondeo's were found to have problematic handbrakes; if the handbrake was not applied precisely as suggested in the ownership literature the handbrake system may actually not hold the car in place. Ford fitted affected models with a revised handbrake system with a better leverage ration to make sure the car stays stationary. [R/2003/083 / Ford Ref: 3C883]

Ka

The Ford Ka was introduced as Ford's cool supermini in the 90s, whilst it of course made use of many unproblematic components already fitted to other Fords, some faults were found exclusively on the Ka. In 2002, for example, it was found that on some models a front brake hose may wear due to contact with a front wheel rim. On some occasions the rubbing on the brake hose could lead to a brake fluid leak and therefore reduced braking performance. Ford managed to solve this by simply fitting a tie strap to lock it to it's retaining clip. [R/2002/085 / Ford Ref: 2C827]

Transit

Ford's iconic Transit van has helped propel the nation's economy for almost a century. Sometimes, though, it has not been able to escape the occasional recall. In 1998, for example, some models built between 1994 and 1998 fitted with cold start equipment were found to have an issue with the sound insulation material in the engine bay. There was a risk it could catch fire due to heat generated around it. Ford's solution was simple, the insulation material was simply removed. [R/1998/009] A rather bigger issue was found on models built between January 2000 and August 2001, on a number of models there was a chance that a pin on the front suspension ball joint may become loose if the van is driven in a rough manner. This meant that the upright could detach itself from the track control arm. Ford was of course quick to fix it, by fitting a pin with an improved design. [R/2001/132 / Ford Ref. 1C781]