Ford Problems

Thanks for the feedback, it sounds like a very dangerous situation and one that can be very difficult to diagnose.

I'm sure there are Ford owners who have had their complaints dealt with efficiently and without fuss, but of course they have no reason to contact us so we don't hear from them. What you read in Carsguide is a reflection of what we receive. And don't think it's only Ford that has issues, all carmakers do. Owners have different expectations, sometimes they are unrealistic, and so every case has to be considered on its merits.

Diffs and diff mounting bushes are known problems with the Territory, but I’m not aware that Ford has been replacing them free of charge. I would still advise you to contact your Ford dealer and request assistance in fixing the problems.

The Bob Jane All-Rounders and the Firestones are both budget brands. Both tyres are 195 mm wide and fit a 15-inch wheel, but the one with the 65 per cent aspect ratio is taller, which makes it larger in diameter. Tyre life is impossible to predict with any precision, because of the many variables that can affect it, but 95,000 km is excellent.

It’s quite possible that the manifold was cracked when your wife drove into deep water, that’s not unusual. It should be able to be welded, but you need to remove it and inspect it to know for sure.

The brake could be the clue. We have had reports of a vibration similar to yours that is caused by the brake master cylinder not fully releasing the brakes. Have the master cylinder checked; you might need to replace it.

It's clearly running hot and could be a sticking thermostat. These Falcons are renowned for having problems with the auto transmission oil cooler, which is located in the radiator. When it goes coolant gets the auto transmission and can affect the transmission if not caught in time, so have that checked.

Good info that could be the thing that solves the problem with Alex's car and the sort of thing that's hard to trace.

Normally they don't disengage automatically, only when the driver disengages them by switching them off or braking. In other situations where the driver might override the cruise it remains engaged and then resumes where it was set. These things can be hard to diagnose when they can't be demonstrated to the mechanic, so I would find a location, hopefully somewhere convenient for the dealer, and take the mechanic with you on a test drive.