2004 Ford Focus C-MAX Ghia 1.6 TDCI from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Looks good, but looks can be deceiving

Faults:

Clock on the dashboard has had to be reset numerous times.

Rear tailgate sometimes opens using the button, or you have to resort to using the key to open electronically.

Has some problem within the engine as it drives, as it is being held back/hits a flat spot, then when clears it throws out plumes of black smoke.

Oil deposits in the turbo charger.

General Comments:

Bought the car from local Honda dealer in 2008 as it met family needs. Had a full service history from the previous owner.

Drove OK up until its service at 40000 miles. Highlighted the problem with the engine in relation to its stuttering/driving as if it had some blockage general poor performance. They could not find anything wrong apart from some water in the fuel tank - how that got there they don't know.

Continued driving it, still presenting with the same problem with the engine. Took it back to the dealer, still couldn't find a problem. They passed it onto Ford; found some oil in the turbo, cleaned it out, increased the idle speed, still no improvement.

Another service by local garage; renewal of oil, air and fuel filters, oil found in the filter, performance now even worse.

Tried to part exchange the car; practically worthless since its purchase.

Has anyone had this sort of problem with performance? Still have little niggles with tailgate being temperamental and also the clock and radio.

Would not buy another C-Max. Poor second in comparison to the Picasso in relation to performance.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 6th January, 2009

2004 Ford Focus C-MAX Zetec 1.6 TDCI turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Dangerous!

Faults:

Have owned before this car; a diesel Focus and diesel Mondeo. Both were good cars, no breakdowns or problems.

I have now 2 C-MAX 1.6 TDCIs and they have been a real problem. One automatic and one manual.

The auto went into limp home mode in the fast lane of the M6 (limp home means you can`t get much more than 30 mph out of the car). Booked it into a Ford garage for analysis; picked it up and while driving it home the same thing happens, so it goes on a recovery truck back to the garage and is on the computer again (both visits cost £125 EACH). I picked it up Christmas week, and all Christmas I drive with the car going into fits of running OK, then total power loss. Still not fixed, and if Ford can`t fix, I am sure no one else can.

The other car is my wife's, and has started to behave the same. Is Ford aware of this problem, and do they care? Someone is going to be killed.

General Comments:

Manufacturer doesn't seem to care about customers.

The car of is no use; won`t run correctly and it's a death trap.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 23rd January, 2008

26th Nov 2008, 19:56

On Labor day of 2008 I bought a 2007 Ford Mustang. On November 17th after starting it up in the morning and driving it 4 miles, I was cruising 65 on the highway when the car went into limp home mode. 200 miles over the 36000 mile mark.

Took to a local Ford Dealer and they said there was nothing wrong with the car. So they gave it back to me.

November 24th, 2008. Driving 65 miles on a 4 lane let lane, had a tractor trailer in it and I had a tractor trailer directly behind me. The car bucked and then went fine for a mile and bucked again, and then went into limp home mode. The trucker behind me had to slam his brakes on to avoid from hitting me.

I do not feel safe driving this car. It went back to the dealers and they told me that it is the EGR valve was bad and they are replacing it. I am really worried that my transmission is going and that Ford is going to let this car run out and screw me over on this car.

I contacted the National Safety Commission and filed a complaint. More people who are having this problem need to do the same. Ford needs to be held accountable for this limp home mode; it is dangerous and needs to be corrected.

In reply to 26th Nov 2008, 19:56

31st Oct 2011, 07:44

Limp, get you home mode, is simply to protect your engine. Just like us, the vehicle has a brain, which tells each part what it is doing.

Ford mechanics are fitters, as are all main dealers; they have all the gear, and absolutely no idea.

If there is a fault that could put your engine or your safety at risk, the brain will shut down all the components it doesn't need, and put the engine on a life support system if you like,

so you can limp to a garage or onto the hard shoulder. You need to forget main dealers, and find a good local garage with intelligent committed mechanics there, and only there you will get to the bottom of your problem :)