Ford Problems

The TZ Territory is generally robust and reliable, a car that gives little trouble and most owners say they would happily have another one. The problems that arise with them are minor and shouldn't put you off.

If you can hear the pump start running when you hit the tank then it could be an earthing or a connection problem, but it could also be a blockage. It's a good idea to refill your tank before the fuel level drops close to empty when there is a much higher chance of the pump picking up rubbish on the bottom of the tank.

The Everest is categorized as a non-offroad passenger car under Category MA. If it was an off-roader under the ADR system it would be categorized MC. By doing that Ford was able to keep all Everest variants, both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, under the same ADR compliance plate approval, whereas MC only allows for 4WD and Ford would have had to have separate compliance for its 2WD and 4WD models.

Ford stands by the off-road capabilities of the Everest, and says the 4WD Everest meets the requirements of the MC category, and that using it off-road won't void the warranty. While Ford is comfortable with the situation and says it has no plan to change the Everest category anyone buying one should be aware of potential issues with insurance if you use one inappropriately, or modify it as you want to do.

The warning is out that anyone wanting to buy a 4WD Everest for off-road use should invest the time and do the homework to make sure you can do what you want with it. At the end of the day it's a case of buyer beware.

We asked Ford to confirm the claims of your Ford salesman, and while we were told they would get to us after checking with their technical people they haven't. It's a tricky situation given that there is an on-going class action suit over the transmission, so I'm not surprised we didn't get a response from Ford. I doubt the claims very much, I suspect there's no truth in them, and the salesman was spinning you a line hoping to land a sale.

You're not alone, there are lots of reports of the Ranger sagging to the left; the springs are clearly not up to the job. Ford's answer in most cases is to stonewall and hope the owner goes away. Keep the pressure up on Ford, but also consider going to Queensland's consumer affairs department. Sad to say, the least painful solution would be to go to a suspension specialist and get the suspension uprated.

It can be hard to locate the cause of an intermittent problem when it doesn't happen while the mechanic is there to see it. Even when it is captured by the on-board diagnostics it can still be difficult to find.

I can only suggest you follow the advice from the dealer and get it back pronto once you strike trouble again.

The auto transmission is a fill-for-life unit, which means that you don't have to have it serviced for the life of the vehicle, whatever that means. For mine the auto should be regularly serviced, particularly when the vehicle is being used for towing, as yours is. There is no hard and fast rule, but in your case I would have it serviced annually.

Most owners are happy with the fuel consumption they get from their Kuga, and no one we have spoken to has suggested the electrics are a problem at high temperatures. One did say they thought the air-conditioning wasn't up to the task, which could be what you are referring to. The Kuga is an import, and imports often have inferior air-conditioning systems that struggle in Australia's extreme heat. The only other issue that cropped up was one with the particulate filter with the diesel, which would go into 'limp-home' mode because the filter failed to regenerate automatically. When that happens it's usually a sign that the owner's driving cycle isn't suitable for the diesel. Dealers can do a manual regeneration, but that costs money. Overall the Kuga appears to be a decent enough car.