Ford Falcon 2005 Problems

SINCE we ran the letter relating to paint problems on the Falcon we have had a lot of responses. I'm asking Ford to confirm or deny a recall to correct paint issues.

BOTH are decent cars, but there are known problems with the diff and the oil cooler on autos, and I have recently heard of a problem with the spark plugs during a regular service on a V8. It seems they are susceptible to breaking while being removed. One owner lost his car for 11 days while the dealer worked out how to remove the six spark plugs that broke while being removed during a scheduled service.

TALKING to Bruce after getting his letter, he tells me the dealer replaced the hoses with later BF hoses, which appear different from the BA hoses taken from his ute. A staff member of the dealer's service department told him the hoses were to go back to Ford for testing. Bruce's son, who runs an Ultratune service centre, says when Falcons are jacked up and the wheels off the ground, the brake hoses are very taut, as if the suspension is hanging on them. Sounds much like the reason Ford gave for recalling the Territory, and adds to the evidence of a problem.

IF YOU have the service records, you have a case. Ford must honour its warranty, even if the car hasn't been serviced by a dealer. As long as you've had it serviced according to the book -- and have the records to prove it -- you have case for a claim. You can always go to Consumer Affairs Victoria for advice.

FORD has done the right thing and replaced the problem hoses without you having to ask. But what happens if a dealer isn't as thorough and doesn't automatically make the change? And there are people who don't take their cars to Ford dealers for service and will miss out, or can't afford to have them serviced at all. A partial recall isn't enough; it's only going halfway to correct what is a serious safety issue.

AS PART of Australian Design Rules covering braking, a carmaker has to meet certain criteria for such a failure, but what I am hearing from readers is the Ford loses all braking. If that is the case it couldn't meet ADR requirements. As if that's not worrying enough, Ford seems reluctant to do a recall.

THE idea that your ute isn't suitable to be taken on to a building site is ironic given that it's a work vehicle designed to do just that. It suggests a flaw in the design.

I CAN understand it might need a new filter, but new fuel lines? As Daryl Kerrigan said in the movies, ``tell him he's dreamin' ''. Get another opinion.

THEY don't suffer the diff problems that affected the XR6, most likely because their drivers aren't so hard on the gas pedal. Overall they're OK, but Falcons of that era appear to suffer from problems with the automatic transmission cooler, rusted panels and other build-quality issues.

MY EXPERIENCE involved driving a current FG Falcon with the optional dedicated E-gas engine, which used 18 litres/100km. That was the average consumption as indicated by the trip computer during the time I had the car. It's important to remember fuel consumption varies tremendously and can be affected by many things such as driving style, tyre pressure, engine condition and tuning. The fuel economy you say you get from your car is on the low side of average.