Initially when we got it home the reversing light didn't work. This required the dealer (under warranty thankfully) to pull the gearbox apart and rebuild it.
Drivers seat ran over its own electric adjustment cables, causing shorts. This happened twice before dealer finally rigged up the cables so they were out of the way.
Centre seat-belt in the back seats frequently stuck.
Rear sub-frame went quite early on and had to be completely replaced (rubbers had perished and you can't just get replacements, you have to change the whole sub-frame!). Sounded like it was on its way out again when we got rid of the car.
Ford replaced the boot after a hit-and-run crash and since then it's leaked like a sieve. Similarly with the rear side door.
Handle above rear door came out.
General build quality was cr*p. After only 45000 miles the car was groinching and creaking whenever it went over a speed bump.
Couldn't fault the engine though - it never once let us down. Had power when you needed it, and motorway driving was a pleasure.
Fuel economy wasn't great, but on long runs it could manage 35mpg.
The seats were the most comfortable I've found in any car. Long distances no problem.
Basically the interior just kept dropping to bits around us, and with the leak in the boot and the inability to get off our (steep) driveway without spinning the wheels we'd just had enough by the end. Cost in tyres alone stopped in being worthwhile.
We'll miss the heated seats and the fast de-misting windscreen though.
Had mine from new as a company car (2001 2.0 Ghia) put 98k on it in three years, and liked it so much I bought it off the lease company when they disposed of it.
I've since put another 15k on it, and it's been brilliant. It's always been serviced on the button, but the only non-consumable items that have needed changing are the tailgate struts and one of the seals on the rear light cluster. Had none of the wiring problems or other faults you mention. The original clutch is holding up nicely, the engine still doesn't need oil top ups between services, and the interior doesn't squeak or rattle.
My particular car was actually more reliable over 100,000 miles than the 2001 Mercedes C200 Kompressor Elegance my boss took delivery of at the same time. Had fewer squeaks inside too.
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