Ford Problems

The recommended change interval is every 120,000 km, and the cost is around $460.

Penrite is a quality oil and the one your chose covers the range needed in the Fiesta at both ends of the scale. You could use another oil that doesn’t have the same broad spectrum and save a little money.

There have been quite a few software issues with the auto trans you’ve got, and the problem is probably associated with that. You need to have a transmission specialist check it for fault codes to try and fins out what is wrong.

You can take it anywhere to have it serviced without affecting the warranty providing the servicing is done by a qualified mechanic according to Ford’s service schedule. If you do go outside the Ford service network, however, you could miss out on any updates, reworks etc that Ford might make on the run. Carmakers regularly make minor changes to fix things that crop up on their cars over time, things that don’t require a full recall, but need fixing and these are often done when the car is serviced.

It's unlikely that you would be able to get a replacement vehicle, but Ford has an obligation to fix it if it has a problem. Sit down with the dealer, and preferably a Ford factory rep, and work out a plan of action to identify and correct the problem. I would also suggest you have an LPG specialist check it.

It could be a number of problems; you need to have a mechanic run a diagnostic check to determine what's causing the warning light to come on.

There have been reports of problems with the brake booster, which can cause the brakes to hold on, but as that’s been replaced without success you need to look elsewhere. I would suggest that you check the brake master cylinder.

That is a really bad run, one that in other countries might have the car officially labeled a ‘lemon’. But as we don’t have ‘lemon’ laws the carmaker doesn’t have to replace the car or refund your money. But they are responsible for fixing it. I don’t believe you will have any success in getting the car replaced, but you could try pressing the dealer/Ford for an extended warranty.

Under the Australian Consumer Law introduced in January 2011, a consumer can request a refund or a replacement for persistent problems if the car doesn’t do the job it’s supposed to do.

The sort of surging you talk about suggests it isn’t getting the cold enrichment it needs to run smoothly during that first phase of driving. It’s probably that the computer is not being told by a sensor to deliver more fuel to the engine, so check the sensors on the engine, and you could check for a faulty connection in the wiring loom.

I'm not sure what you would complain about, unless you're concerned that the dealer might not have changed the oil at the service, or hadn't refilled it after draining it, but if that were the case the engine would have stopped a long time ago. If it has been running without oil, or with too little oil, it would cause severe internal damage, and do it very quickly, but if that was the case you should had warning that the oil level was too low. What you should do is have it checked. Engines lose oil through burning in the engine or by leakage, and you need to find out which it is in your case.