Ford Problems

Twice Ford has sold the Mustang in Australia and both times it’s main role has been to support the Falcon. The first time it was officially sold here was in 1965 and 1966 when 209 Mustang coupes were imported and converted to right-hand drive by Ford. They were brought in to give visual credibility to Ford’s claim that the XR Falcon was ‘Mustang-bred’.The next time Ford Australia turned to the Mustang was in 2001 when it released the Mustang Cobra. Ford was going through a tough time in the market, the AU Falcon was being panned left right and centre and the Mustang injected some excitement into the brand when it was desperately needed.Ford’s plan was to sell 250 Mustangs per year, but it never reached those heady heights and it officially left Ford showrooms in 2003, although there were cars still on sale at dealers a couple of years after that.MODEL WATCH There’s no doubt that the Mustang was one of motoring’s all-time icons. It’s introduction in America in 1964 caused a sensation and sales soared to a level unimaginable even by the most optimistic of Ford’s marketing people. It was literally an overnight success. Subsequent models built on the initial success, but its glory began to fad in the 1970s when the focus swung towards fuel-efficiency, environmental friendliness and safety.A disastrous experiment with a four-cylinder model almost brought about the end of the Mustang in the mid-1970s, but there were enough die-hard Mustang fans within Ford to ensure it was kept alive through some very lean years. By the end of the 1990s the Mustang had a V8 again and was enjoying a renewed popularity and its future was assured with the 1999 model.Ford decided to spice up its local offering by bringing the Mustang here in 2001. The car that arrived here wasn’t just any Mustang, it was the Mustang Cobra, which was the top model in the US market and sold through SVT dealers. SVT was Ford America’s version of FPV here.Before it was sold here it was stripped bare by Tickford, the predecessor of FPV, and very competently converted to right-hand drive It was no cheap makeover. More than 150 major new components were made along with 200 minor parts and 250 documented processes. All up Ford invested $4 million in the project.The power was delivered through a sweet revving 4.6-litre all-alloy quad-cam V8 that pushed 240 kW and 430 Nm through the drive train. It was a silky smooth engine that emitted a low growl as a reminder of the potential that lay under the bonnet. The transmission was a Tremec five-speed manual that fed into a limited-slip diff on the way to the rear wheels. Underneath the Mustang boasted modified MacPherson Struts at the front and double wishbone independent suspension at the rear, the brakes were discs front and back with ABS, the steering was power-assisted.Ford offered the Mustang in coupe and convertible forms, and being a premium model, it had all the bells and whistles. Standard were leather trim, air-conditioning, power mirrors and windows, six-disc CD player, remote central locking, power driver’s seat, tilt steering wheel and cruise. The convertible had a power roof with a glass rear window.On the road it wasn’t the most sophisticated car; it’s handling was predictable without being particularly sharp and its ride was a little choppy, but its engine was a treat.IN THE SHOP The changes made to the Mustang by FPV improved it for Australian conditions. The engine is a delight. It revs freely and makes a great noise, which is probably the best thing about this Mustang. Inside it’s a little cramped given that it’s a big car and the quality of the interior trim and fittings isn’t great. Overall build quality is typically American, which means it isn’t as good as the Japanese or Europeans, but it seems to hang together quite well and few problems are being reported.Look for a service record and make sure the engine oil has been changed regularly.IN A CRASH Dual frontal airbags came standard in the Mustang, which provided pretty good crash protection. Standard ABS brakes and traction control, with reasonable chassis dynamics add up to a good level of primary safety.OWNER’S VIEW Peter Tollitt bought his Mustang Coupe in 2001 and says every day since has been an adventure. It is the longest he’s ever owned a car and even with 100,000 km approaching he says there is no car that excites him enough to make a change. He’s improved its looks by lowering it and fitting big billet wheels. He says there is nothing that comes close to the excitement of jumping in the Cobra everyday with Deep Purple pumping out at one end and the sweetest factory delivered exhaust note pumping out the other. He rates the handling improvements by FPV highly and says the performance is also great. He says it has been virtually trouble free and relatively inexpensive, particularly compared to his three previous HSVs. A broken clutch, a twisted driver’s side seat belt and a few minor throttle niggles in peak hour are his only complaints, but he says they pale in insignificance when compared to the upsides of the car.LOOK FOR • Head turning looks• Great exhaust note• Good performance• Average build quality• Cramped interior for sizeTHE BOTTOM LINE Great engine, average chassis and build quality, but it’s a MustangRATING 65/100

Ford’s decision to build an all-new car in the Territory was one of the bravest made by a car company involved in the local industry. Thankfully for those involved it proved an exceptionally good decision, but had it gone wrong it could easily have spelt the end for Ford in Australia as we know it.The decision is credited to Geoff Polites, then the boss of Ford Australia who had brought the company back from the brink after suffering an alarming sales slump through the years of the controversial AU Falcon.Polites made a number of brave decisions while heading Ford, his gamble to invest heavily in BA instead of doing a simple cosmetic makeover of the AU being the first. That one worked a treat and the Falcon is now back in the game, and it can only be assumed that it gave him the confidence to push ahead with the Territory.The Territory shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone listening to Polites at his monthly briefings when he took every opportunity to talk up the success of SUVs. He could see that private car buyers were turning their backs on the traditional sedans and wagons and buying more and more four-wheel drives instead. From there it wasn’t a huge step to make the decision to build one of his own.MODEL WATCH The formula Ford followed for building the Territory isn’t a new one. SUVs have been a regular part of the automotive diet for several years, and Ford has built plenty of them in other parts of the world.One difference, a bold one at that, is that Ford decided to build a two-wheel drive version as well as the traditional four-wheel drive wagon. Polites recognised that many SUV buyers really just wanted a high riding, roomy station wagon for the perceived benefits of being able to see the road better and weren’t interested in going off the black top.Apart from the drive train the Territory didn’t have much in common with the Falcon, it was fundamentally a new car from the ground up.It rolled on a longer wheelbase than the Falcon, but was shorter in length and was much taller. Its shape was neat and clean, its lines uncluttered and purposeful, overall it was a neat looking wagon that fitted the new genre perfectly.Inside it was roomy with comfortable accommodation for five in standard form, but up to seven adults with the optional third row, and plenty of space for everything a family needs to take with them when venturing out in the big wide world.There was a host of natty little storage bins, cup holders and pockets to take small bits and pieces that might be needed while on the road, and the list of standard features was comprehensive.Mechanically the Territory was similar to the BA Falcon. It had the same 182 kW 4.0-litre double overhead camshaft six-cylinder engine for power, the same four-speed automatic transmission with sequential sports shift and the choice of either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.While it rode higher than the Falcon the suspension was similar, the Territory boasting independent front suspension with the Falcon’s control blade independent rear. Brakes were disc front and rear with anti-skid electronics, traction control and grade control for offroad safety.The TX paved the way to the new Territory, but it still had plenty of standard features an owner could boast about. There was air-conditioning, trip computer, adjustable pedals, power windows, cloth trim, CD player and remote central locking. For more there was the TS, which also came with dual climate control air, cruise, rear cargo shelf, velour trim, six-CD stacker and alloy wheels. Step up to the range-topping Ghia and you also drove away holding a leather-wrapped steering wheel, seated on leather trimmed power driver’s seat looking into an auto dimming rear view mirror.IN THE SHOP Being barely two years old the Territory is still in its infancy so there’s not much to report from the field. Few will have been driven off road, certainly the two-wheel drive cars will have stuck to the black top, but it’s worth checking underneath four-wheel drives for any damage that might have been sustained by driving off road. When Cars Guide tested one shortly after its release the fuel tank guard was damaged from grounding in a rut on a bush track and a section of the rear bumper was dislodged when caught on the road while attempting a steep climb.There’s plenty of choice on the market so it’s well worth being choosey and walking away from a car that shows the signs of offroad use. They’re also used as family cars so look for damage to trim and interior fittings caused by kids bored during the journey. Being favoured for family transport look for dings and dents from the daily shopping centre car park grand prix.Some owners are concerned about the fuel consumption and looking to convert to dual-fuel. Ford doesn’t offer a system, but there are aftermarket systems available to convert the Territory to dual-fuel to save on running costs. Later reports are that the Territory suffered failure of the front suspension lower control arm ball joints, and there are a number of worrying reports of brake hoses failing.IN A CRASH The concern with high riding cars is that the higher centre of gravity means sloppier handling, but the Territory rides and handles quite well with no obvious problems because of the higher ride. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS anti-skid and brake force distribution electronics, power steering and independent suspension make an impressive primary safety package for crash avoidance. All models boast dual front airbags, but with side curtain airbags the TS and Ghia offer superior secondary crash protection.LOOK FOR • car park dings and scratches• underbody damage from offroad usage• good visibility from high driving position• clean simple styling• room for up to seven• generally reliable engine and gearbox• can be converted to dual-fuelTHE BOTTOM LINERoomy reliable wagon with proven Falcon mechanicals makes the Territory an attractive family package.RATING 75/100

SUVs like the Ford Escape have become firm family favourites having replaced the traditional station wagon and in many cases the regular family four-door.Launched in 2001 the Escape was Ford’s main weapon in the emerging SUV war before the Territory was launched. It’s now a second-string model to the bigger Territory, but is still a popular compact off-roader with families not wanting or needing the size of the Territory.MODEL WATCH The Escape was a close cousin of the Mazda Tribute. Apart from some minor styling changes and specification variations they were essentially the same vehicle. A mid-sized wagon, the Escape was reasonably roomy and would accommodate five in relative comfort. At the time of its launch the interior came in for quite a deal of criticism for its tacky plastics with a mish-mash of clashing tones and textures.Under the bonnet of all Escape models was a double overhead camshaft 60-degree 3.0-litre V6 engine that punched out peaks of 150 kW at 5900 revs and 266 Nm at 4700 revs. With that sort of punch on tap the Escape had plenty of get up and go when needed. When asked it would accelerate to 100 km/h in a little over 10 secs, and would sprint 400 metres in 17 secs. Backing up the V6 was a four-speed automatic transmission with a rather clunky column shift. For better control when needed it could be shifted manually and the gears could be held so they didn’t upshift at the wrong moment.Like most compact SUVs the Escape was essentially designed as a high riding front-wheel drive wagon, but with a viscous coupling that directed drive to the rear wheels as required. For more control in adverse conditions a diff-lock could be introduced that locked the coupling at the push of a button and distributed the drive equally between the front and the rear wheels.On the road the Escape handled all road conditions with poise, and its steering was well weighted and responsive if lacking feel around centre. The ride was comfortable with larger bumps swallowed up with ease and smaller ones dismissed with just a little feedback to those in the cabin.Ford offered the Escape in a choice of three well-equipped models. The XLS kicked off the range and boasted air, power windows, tilt column, remote central locking, and four-speaker CD sound. Next up line the XLT got cruise, cargo net, driver’s seat height adjustment, a vanity mirror, engine immobiliser, and alarm and fog lamps. Perched atop the range there was the Limited with leather trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel and electric sunroof.IN THE SHOP Most Escapes are used for family transport and aren’t subjected to hard offroad use, but check anyway. Outside, check for damage to the paint and body from offroad use on bush tracks, while underneath look for evidence of heavier offroad driving. Look for flattened brackets, battered exhaust hangers, dents in the floorpan, a bashed oil pan and suspension damage. Mechanically there are few reports of trouble; the engine, gearbox and driveline all seem to be standing up well in service.IN A CRASH With a capable chassis, decent brakes, and four-wheel drive the Escape has a good active safety package. Early XLS models didn’t have ABS, but all models boasted the important safety system after the 2003 ZA update. All models had dual front airbags, while the Limited also had side airbags for added protection. The rear seat centre passenger had to make do with a lap belt only.AT THE PUMP The Escape is most often criticized for its fuel consumption; it’s something a potential buyer should be aware of as many find out only after laying down their hard-earned. Look for 13 L/100 km on average around town and 8-9 L/100 km on the highway, but don’t be surprised to find it doing 14-16 L/100 km in regular use.OWNERS SAY Steven Boyle and his wife bought a 2005 ZB Escape XLS with 14,000 km on the clock. They regularly tow a boat weighing around 1400 kg and while they say the fuel consumption rises and the performance drops when the boat is on the back, they say it handles the load well and there’s enough punch left for overtaking. In everyday use they say it is easy to drive, is comfortable, the control layout is good, and longer trips are no strain on either driver or passengers. They say the fit and finish is of a good quality and there are no annoying squeaks or rattles. Their only complaints are that the fuel consumption is high, there’s a slight wind noise from the front drivers side, the cruise control is not very refined, and the factory underbody treatment was not adequate and they had to have it done themselves. Overall they say it does all they ask of it and that it has been very reliable.Darren Greenwood has had his Escape XLT five years and has done 70,000 trouble free kilometres in it. He was looking for a small to mid-sized wagon when he bought it, but the Escape seemed to be well priced given the equipment it came with. He doesn’t agree with the criticism he’s heard of the column shift and the centre armrest, saying you get used to it and the centre armrest is quite large and useful for storage. The V6, he says, has plenty of punch and averages about 10 L/100 km. It’s done a bit of off roading and been to the snow a few times, although there’s been no serious bush bashing. The handling isn’t up to car standard, but if it’s not pushed too hard you don’t notice it. He says it’s roomy, he likes the high driving position with the visibility it gives, and getting the kids in and out is a breeze.LOOK FOR • Gutsy performer, but thirsty• Roomy inside• Rides and handles well• Effective four-wheel drive• High driving positionTHE BOTTOM LINE • Capable, roomy and gutsy performer, but can be very thirsty.RATING 70/100

And the car industry is not immune from being saddled with these potentially damaging problems.Apart from Ford's recent problems with brake hoses and brake booster valves on E-Gas Falcons the other ‘big two’ carmakers have had their fair share of recalls.Holden has had five recalls for its VE Commodore and Statesman range since its introduction in 2006, involving things like fuel vapor lines, fuel lines and defective valves on LPG cars.ToyotaToyota had a range of recalls for its Camry, HiLux, RAV4, Yaris and LandCruiser over the past three years. Most, like a headlight dimmer switch on a Camry, have been minor. Others, like the potential fire hazard stemming from a poorly installed insulator pad on a Yaris, raised alarm bells among some customers.NissanLast week Nissan was forced to recall 11,743 Maximas and 4972 Muranos because of a vibrating air intake in the engine bay.AudiEven the luxury German brands are not immune. Last year Audi had to recall its TT for a piece of rear side trim in its cars that unless fixed, could potentially injure passengers.Mercedes-Benz This year Mercedes-Benz has recalled its M-Class off-roader for a possible glitch in its electric rear hatch. It was also forced to recall S-Class sedans fitted with active body control because of problems with the front lower ball joints on its suspension. On some high-mileage vehicles, the front suspension could fracture on rough roads. Faulty left and right windows in the Viano van also required the replacement.BMWOf the German carmakers, BMW has fared better. It has not had a official government recall since 2006.Volvo Volvo has had three recalls this year of its S80, XC70, V70 and new XC60 for engine cooling fan problems and windscreen wiper problems with the S80 and XC70.JaguarJaguar, once widely ridiculed for its poor quality cars, has come a long way over the past few years. Jaguars these days have no less, or no more, problems with recalls than some of the other luxury brands. Last year it experienced some minor problems with the XF range involving wiring and rear seatbelts.In all cases, recalls by carmakers are handled quickly and responsibly. If you want to check out whether your vehicle has had a recall, go to www.recalls.gov.au