Why I will never buy another Ford vehicle.

[maderaroja]

I bought mine used one year ago. It was a “top of the line” Ford Focus, saloon. There was 134,000 km on the odometer. I was told that it was a one-owner vehicle with no problems.

I have put an additional 14,000 km of travel on the vehicle in one year. So, it now has 148,000, (about 95,000 miles), on the odometer.

During the one year that I have had it, I have had to pay out more than 27,000฿ in parts and repairs. This seemed a bit high to me, but within my level of toleration.

Now, however, the air conditioner works sporatically. The dealer told me that it will me a new air compressor and ancilary parts; cost more than 22,000฿.

While I was thinking about that, the power steering failed. I went to the dealer and he told me that I will need a new pump and associated parts; cost more than 28,000฿.

I asked the service manager if it was normal for a “top of the line” vehicle with so little mileage on it to fail so many parts. He said that I was in Thailand now and that I could not expect the level of quality that I had experienced in the U.S. His attitude was pretty much: “pay it or not; it's up to you”.

So, I warn all of you prospective car buyers out there to be very careful to consider other makes of vehicle before you buy. Ford probably is not the one that you want. It is not the one that I wanted.

[Briggsy]

134,000 km??? "vehicle with so little mileage"???

[inzman]

Don't think it's only in Thailand. In the USA fords break down with regular occurrence, and they are much more expensive to repair. Don't like them at all. Japanese cars are the most economical to run.

[maderaroja]

134,000 km??? "vehicle with so little mileage"???

I don't know where you are from, but in Texas, we don't think that a vehicle should need many parts, beyond normal service, until after it has reached more than 250,000 miles, about 400,000 km.

[Briggsy]

Power steering pumps are not going to last 400,000 kms. I believe your expectations are too high. I am from the UK.

148,000 kms is high mileage in my book for a car in Thailand. Worse road conditions, worse maintenance, more stop / start driving, more accidents, no effective MOT / Tor Ror Or (roadworthiness). Again your expectations are too high.

[amexpat]

Fix Or Repair Daily

[daveAustin]

Any vehicle nowadays with that high a mileage in such as short space of time (assuming the car is not that old) will likely give you issues. They are driven hard here in high heat, high humidity city settings... bit different to dry Texas with those big open roads.

However, the service manager's throwaway this-is-Thailand line narks me somewhat. So what he's basically saying is, put up with it because my country is crap and we don't give a ****.

[daveAustin]

Fix Or Repair Daily

For Old Retired Drivers.

[hanno]

I bought a Ford van and a Ford 4WD for the hotel I work in as well as a Ford for myself. Every single one has had repeat problems with the A/C, airbags, and ABS.

Never another Ford, that is for sure. A lady at the dealer told me they are assembled in Turkey and known for the poor workmanship...........

[NeverSure]

134,000 km??? "vehicle with so little mileage"???

I don't know where you are from, but in Texas, we don't think that a vehicle should need many parts, beyond normal service, until after it has reached more than 250,000 miles, about 400,000 km.

Yes, but that's just one round trip across Texas on interstate 10.

[ubonjoe]

Moved to the motoring forum.

[maderaroja]

Moved to the motoring forum.

I have looked carefully on the face page for TV and I see no "Motoring Forum". Where are the other forums that are frequently referred to from various post to the main forum?

[maderaroja]

134,000 km??? "vehicle with so little mileage"???

I don't know where you are from, but in Texas, we don't think that a vehicle should need many parts, beyond normal service, until after it has reached more than 250,000 miles, about 400,000 km.

Yes, but that's just one round trip across Texas on interstate 10.

I can't get a good steak near I10. I'd have to take a side trip to Amarillo.

[WarpSpeed]

134,000 km??? "vehicle with so little mileage"???

I don't know where you are from, but in Texas, we don't think that a vehicle should need many parts, beyond normal service, until after it has reached more than 250,000 miles, about 400,000 km.

Broad statement, also not speaking for all Americans and many like myself see it other ways, that is very extreme to say 250,000 miles, I believe it's nonsense personally.

[WarpSpeed]

Don't think it's only in Thailand. In the USA fords break down with regular occurrence, and they are much more expensive to repair. Don't like them at all. Japanese cars are the most economical to run.

I'm sure that has nothing to do with how many are on the roads either does it?

[WarpSpeed]

Moved to the motoring forum.

I have looked carefully on the face page for TV and I see no "Motoring Forum". Where are the other forums that are frequently referred to from various post to the main forum?

Business in Thailand, jobs in Thailand sub forum.

[Loptr]

134,000 km??? "vehicle with so little mileage"???

I don't know where you are from, but in Texas, we don't think that a vehicle should need many parts, beyond normal service, until after it has reached more than 250,000 miles, about 400,000 km.

Yes, but that's just one round trip across Texas on interstate 10.

You are not far wrong... From Orange, Texas on the border with Louisiana to El Paso, it is 898 miles...

[LivinLOS]

Wifes ford is going on for 3rd year.. Nothing more than services..

You dont say the age but its out of warranty period I am guessing.. Buying used (I do) means you can have those.. Maybe it was a flood car, those can end up lemons easy..

[Chwooly]

Most americans trade their cars in within 5 years and most Americans never drive 50k miles in a year, average is 12-15k so to say 250k is what is expected in america is BS. Now if you put in the caveat that your talking about diesel trucks then maybe I could agree. But even then that is a stretch, besides you bought used with no idea of the history. Personally I would be looking at getting a 2nd opinion or going to another garage, I think the garage your going to is taking the piss just from the response of "TIT"

[northernjohn]

134,000 km??? "vehicle with so little mileage"???

I don't know where you are from, but in Texas, we don't think that a vehicle should need many parts, beyond normal service, until after it has reached more than 250,000 miles, about 400,000 km.

Are those stop and go city miles? Big difference between stop and go and open highway. 134,000 km that's about 80,000 miles is a lot to put on a vehicle in one year. That is about 220 miles a day. No time for servicing on the road constantly

On the other hand you could have got a lemon. How much had the previous owner put into it. Had they done the normal upkeep. Had they kept the fluid levels up?

A lot of unanswered possibilities here.

[colinneil]

I stopped buying Fords in 1973, had a mk2 cortina what a bag of sh..e. Never again.

[transam]

I stopped buying Fords in 1973, had a mk2 cortina what a bag of sh..e. Never again.

Hmmmmm, a very reliable car. I mini cabbed one for a year, noooo probs at all....

[transam]

OP, perhaps the ride hasn't been serviced properly during that high-ish mileage eh........

[Lizard2010]

A friend has a Ford Feista only 2 years old

It was shuddering when driving

Went to Ford dealer Told has to have a seal replaced

Under warranty as part was faulty Maybe made in Turkey

The service lady say fix under warranty

Had a friend go to pick it up after repair under warranty

Was told 800 baht

Friend had to go to see then then told service manger

Part fixed under warranty

He gave in and gave her the car with no payment

Typical of any service manager

Try to get you to pay Under Warranty

This is Thai Style

[Lizard2010]

OP, perhaps the ride hasn't been serviced properly during that high-ish mileage eh........

It all depends on Who did the Services

Ford Dealer or local Service Man?

What was written in the Service Record

[oxymoron]

Any vehicle nowadays with that high a mileage in such as short space of time (assuming the car is not that old) will likely give you issues. They are driven hard here in high heat, high humidity city settings... bit different to dry Texas with those big open roads.

However, the service manager's throwaway this-is-Thailand line narks me somewhat. So what he's basically saying is, put up with it because my country is crap and we don't give a ****.

So you dislike people telling you the truth

[trainman34014]

In Britain we always called them '' Dagenham Dustbins ''. However; the older models were always good workhorses and easily repaired so they were always popular.

Despite improved engine technology i personally do not consider that it is reasonable to expect any car to last up to 400,000 klicks without any major mechanical problems occurring, especially when it's secondhand and nobody knows how the vehicle was treated by its previous owner. Indeed; a car with 134,000 on the clock may well be clapped out if it has been thrashed as a fleet vehicle by Rep's and such like who show little or no care for anything they drive as ''it doesn't belong to me ''. Today's engines may well want to go on and on but other mechanical components are likely to give up and require replacement at regular intervals after around 150,000 klicks.

The price of secondhand cars in Thailand is a bad joke and it's better to go and buy a new one and take your chances with Thai build Japanese. At least you start with warranty !

[arthurwait]

134,000 km??? "vehicle with so little mileage"???

Ford Focus........secondhand ford focus......'top of the line ????

A ford in the UK with that mileage would be heading for the scrap yard.

[arthurwait]

Air conditioning pumps fail if they are not treated like turbos are meant to. Idled before switching on and after switching off. Wife has had 2 Honda ones fail int he last 4 or 5 years. Apparently this is the reason.

[billd766]

Fix Or Repair Daily

For Old Retired Drivers.

Well as an old retired but still driving I am so sad to have to report that my Ford Ranger is on its 4th set of tyres, the clutch has failed a couple of times and it has had a new radiator. All the dents and bumps are mine except one.

I really ought to complain to Ford Thailand as it is only 13 years old and only has 315,xxx km on the clock plus I am only getting about 11km/ltr.

Oh and it is dirty too as we are saving water.

We bought it brand new on December 4th 2001 and I don't think we have reached the half life yet.

I wanted to buy something second hand but my wife refused to have one saying that we would have no idea what was done to it before we bought it.

A wise man once said for peace and harmony always listen and agree with your wife. You can deal with the problems that brings later later.

If I had the money I would buy a new Ford Ranger this month.