2000 Ford Ka 1 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Fuel Tank Seal missing on purchase.

Radio replaced 3 times.

Front bushes replaced twice in 2 years.

Steering Rack replaced after on year and PAS pump noisy.

Persistent leaks of power steering fluid.

"Ford Disco Effect" rear light clusters.

Clutch replaced at 35000 miles.

Spare Wheel, impossible to remove without considerable strength being needed.

Rear Wiper intermittent in operation.

Carpet comes away to reveal wiring.

After owning the car for only 2 hours, £20 of petrol leaked over a garage forecourt, due to a missing seal that had been overlooked, dealer refused to recover car and had to be driven in an unsafe condition.

Persistant rubbing noise from front of car explained to be worn brake pads by dealer, the noise was still there after they were changed and was subsequently found to be worn bushes in the front suspension, which the dealer refused to replace under warranty.

The radio failed 3 times in the first year, after the third time the dealer refused to replace it again, they also ordered the wrong radio, even though the car was at the dealership.

When the dealer had the car, they refused to provide a courtesy car, and refused to help me with transport to my place of work.

The PAS system started to lose fluid and would work intermittently, once again the dealer refused to stand over the vehicle and I was quoted £485+VAT for the steering rack alone, as the suspension bushed had worn out for the second time, as well, the total quote from the dealer was £983.

The clutch started slipping at 35000 miles and was replaced, the reversing light never worked after this.

The rear lights started to flash on and off and when braking the indicator would light up at both front and rear, the indicator would not function under braking.

The general level of finish was very poor in comparison to previous Ford vehicles I have owned, the carpet was poorly fitted and the plastic dashboard became grubby in a short space of time.

The spare wheel, for a car aimed at women drivers was very hard to remove and replace, replacement involved lying on the ground holding the wheel up with one hand, whilst another person tightened the retaining bolt.

Our local Ford dealer was unhelpful in the extreme, once the car was purchased, they lost all interest in it, and refused to honour warranty agreements and were generally a disappointment in comparison to dealers for other marques.

We read this report with horror as we're thinking of buying a Ford Ka. I think you also need to question the morals of the dealer who sold the car to you and contact your local Trading standards office for advice. Are you able to name and shame the dealers in your report? It would help people to think twice before buying.

Hi there I had a ka like this a few years ago, it was a bad from day one. It was in and out of the dealer for its 6 month life span and they could not fix it. So one day I was that sick of the thing after work I stoped in a layby and just held my foot right down to the floor. The engine was revving its guts out. I was like this for about 2 hours until its engine just blew up and wow it went with one hell of a bang lol. The car was recovered to a main dealer and I was given a new car by Ford UK and all is well with this one.. Jane. x

I have own a Ka since 2001, my first car and I'm really happy with it.

I live in mexico city and my little car was made in Brazil, have taken to the Ford just for the 10K, 20K and almost the 30K.

I'm surpised to read all this things about the car, maybe is the place where its made.

Nothing to complain really, no problems with the reverse, no problems with nothing really...

Great little car.

Hi, the car in question was owned by my girlfriend, we sold it just after the review was written for £1850, over £4000 depreciation in 2 years is clearly unacceptable, we decided to get rid of the car after it started pulling violently under acceleration and braking, the top mounting for the right hand shock absorber had failed, and the electrical system was playing up, with lights all working intermittently.

The PAS pump was also starting to whine and was on the way out.

For a laugh, I drove the car to the dealer it was bought from, pretending that I had had just bought the car from a young woman and was looking to trade in against a new model, the dealer unknowingly described my girlfriend as "an idiot" and blamed her for the cars swift demise, instead of the total lack of dealer service and build quality.

He offered £2100 trade in against a new Ka.

The car was replaced by a 10 year old Fiesta which is better in every way.

I have had good service from a Ford Ka for just over 3 years. The dealers I have taken it to have been helpful and courteous. You've sold yours now, so best put it down to experience, but if a similar situation arises I would contact the Ford motor company with brief, but comprehensive details. The dealer in question clearly was not providing anything like the quality of service that Ford demands of its dealers.

I feel at home here. Just put my 40,000 mile 2001 Ka in for its annual service and MOT. The only obvious problem was a noisy steering pump. Got a gleeful (the only way I can describe it) call from the service department a couple of hours later to tell me that it had failed the MOT due to a leaking steering rack and two loose front suspension bushes. Quote to fix everything and complete the service was GBP 1470 (GBP 777 for the steering rack alone). I've told them to scrap the Ka (literally)...

I just got a shocking repair bill for £630 when was told that my wife's Y reg Ford KA with 17,700 miles on the clock needed a new steering rack. Ford Customer Care weren't willing to offer any partial payment given the low mileage. Looking elsewhere on the internet it looks like steering rack failure may be common with Ford KAs.

Well, well, well first MOT on my Ford Ka and guess what... the steering rack needs replacing. Strangely enough no hint of this at the previous service at the same Ford Dealers. I need a cheap runaround for my work, but in retrospect a Ford Ka was the wrong buy.

In reply to the 10 "things that have gone wrong"

Point 1) I think that's what's called a Friday afternoon car

Point 2) Din slot adaptor + Halfords bought stereo

Point 3) Yeah tell me about it!!! Common problem, fixed on 02 onwards I believe

Point 4) Again common problem, I heard Ford fitted too small a PAS reservoir, which they only replace if you ask.

Point 5) I bet that was due to a “Ford approved” fix for point 4)

Point 6) Can't say I've had that problem

Point 7) 35K miles!!! What were you doing, driving up Mount Everest at 5 mph in first???

Point 8) Yep, been there, done that, it’s called “the wheel wrench” and “half an hour”!!!

Point 9) That’s a faulty earth, that one is bloody annoying!

Point 10) Well considering you can see body metal inside the car, were you really expecting expense to be put in here?

After reading the above comments regarding KA's I had to add something.

My KA is on a 03 plate, yes just over 3 yrs on, 31K on the clock and it needs guess what a new steering rack!

Had probs since Oct 05 with steering, keep slipping and looses it power steering, 3 trips to my local Ford garage, ' Sorry Madam, we can't find anything wrong with it', passed it's MOT in Apr 06, nothing found, steering has got worse.

End os Sept 06 took it back to garage, warranty expired in Apr 06 and guess what they find a fault with the Track Rod Ends, they need replacing!, £120 later thought all was well til last night, turned the steering wheel to go round a roundabout and clunk, squeak, had a job to turn the steering wheel round and squeaked all the way, took it back to the garage today and now guess what they think, yes think it needs a new steering rack! £800+!!!, umm, all outside of warranty of course!

Logged a complaint with Ford, they will get back to me by Tuesday!!!

YIPPIE!!!, No more Ford's for me!

Bought a 03 plate Ka Collection from one of the corner shop dealers with 27000 miles and 6 months MOT. The car looked clean and had two service stamps in the book.

Just for a laugh decided to put it through the main dealer major service.

1) Heavy leaking steering rack + pump noisy - recommend replace £1010

2) Top front shock absorber mounts heavily worn - £167.30

3) Recommend A/C service and deodoriser (?) £180

4) Reverse light switch leaking gearbox oil (!) £47

... If I add the cost of the proposed repairs to the purchase price of the car it would exceed the price new!

Word of advice - never ask main dealers to do the repairs - take the car to the local friendly guy who will not rip you off! Steering rack is a pain - was quoted £135+VAT to swap for a reconditioned one, this is exactly what I am going to do.

As a technician in the motor trade working for a successful independent garage I thought I’d put in a post.

Having worked on many Ka’s over the years and having owned myself I’d recommend the Ka as a fun little car, that’s cheap to maintain.

Costs of repairs from dealers are normally very high, the local dealer to me has a labour rate of over double ours, nearly £80+vat per hour. Combine that with the cost of new GENUINE parts compared to motor factors patent parts and the prices go crazy. Just for info the complete labour time to replace the PAS pump, complete rack, track rod ends, both pipes, reservoir and the belt is only 4 hours! The rack alone only takes an hour. To buy the rack from a motor factors costs about £80+vat, do the maths!

As for the suspension bushes these fail on almost all manufacturers, they seems to be wearing out quicker on the newer cars.

As a rule, combine a trusted independent and routine yearly servicing and enjoy cheap motoring!

PS - It's basically a fiesta mk3/4, cheap and cheerful! I'd still stick to VAG group. LOL.

My Y reg 2001 KA is currently in the garage having it's second steering rack fitted!!! The last one was fitted two years ago. It has 35000 miles on the clock and I do about 5000 a year (I bought it at a year old with 11000 on the clock. Two wishbones are also being done and I had to have a new clutch last year.

Well it's nice to see I'm not on my own. I've had a 2002 Ford KA since new. The problems have been as follows:Wishbone & knocking noise in 2005 at 23,000 miles, Had to replace Track rods and a broken coil spring at 31,000 at a cost of £221 in October 2006. In April 2007, at 44,000 miles, the KA developed a Power steering leak, which has been traced to the Steering rack! Cost of replacement has been quoted at £583 (Ford dealer) or £105 for a re con. plus 3-4 hours labour which should work out about £260. Not great for the mileage involved!

My mother has a sports Ford Ka which has only 20 000 miles on the clock. Now the dealer has told her that her clutch needs replacing due to her driving... (!)

The car has less that 20k miles and is only 2 and a half years old...