1998 Ford Puma from UK and Ireland - Comments

Me and my wife have just bought a 1998 1.7 Puma. I took it up to the car wash on bank holiday Monday, gave it a good clean on the outside. Only when I finished I got in to start it and no power. The AA came and couldn't sort it; he tried to jump start, it failed. He tried by hitting the starter motor, failed, tried to bump start, failed. He towed it to the garage where they changed the battery and then plugged it in to the computer and it came up with error code 21, something to do with the key. He can't sort it so it will have to go the Ford dealer unless anyone out there has any ideas.

Hi, my girlfriend bought a 1.6 Ford Puma and it started shaking on the way home after 50 mph. I had the wheels balanced, but that didn't fix it, so I bought a new set of wheels and it still does it. It seems to go worse when there are more people in the car. Could anyone help me?

I brought a '98 1.4 Puma a few weeks ago. It was MOT'd and serviced at the beginning of July so when I brought it I assumed I'd have no problems with it, I was wrong!

To start with the fob didn't always work. It would take me few attempts before the doors would unlock. I assumed the battery needed changing so took it to a garage where they changed the battery and reset it for me. It worked fine, for 2days! Now the fob doesn't even unlock the car and if I use the key in the door the alarm goes off. The key now won't unlock the boot either. I assume I just need a new key fob but as it's under warranty and I'm not reliant of the car I'll let the garage I brought it from get it sorted!

Have had my Puma from new for nearly 7 years and have yet to meet a car I like better. Brake pads only had to be replaced after 64000 miles and it has now done nearly 90000, with very few repairs. Suspension arms being replaced as we speak, to get MOT but the car still drives like a dream. Have had no problems with leaks etc and still thoroughly enjoy driving it. Definitely a driver's car; not for the Chelsea tractor brigade!

I have had 2 pumas over 5 years I had a black one and now a grey puma thunder and I love them OK I just had clutch fitted today at 375 punds but it feels like brand new. they look stylish and I would love a rav4, but change my mind because when I see another puma they look good.

Do some people not realise that half of all these 'complaints' are wear parts?

Brake pads and discs do wear out (yes admittedly a little quick if ya use them hard).

Someone mentioned tyres, well that's down to driving styles too!

People moan about the parcel shelves, well you have no doubt already read that the strings are too short, well put some longer ones in!, and the fittings, all I did with mine was put a thin layer of tape round the round legs to hold them in place.

Squeaks and rattles show the car has been hammered normally, worst case ones, normally when they have spent most of the time with all four wheels off the ground while hurtling down bumpy roads.

The water leak problems were common on early models, both the Puma and Fiesta (same platform used for both).

Check the passenger footwell carpet for dampness, there was an issue with some of the windscreens leaking at the bottom (quick silicone squirt under rubber sorts it).

Others were slightly worse, and had weeping bulkheads from manufacture.

ALL this should be picked up on the initial test drive!

Someone mentioned about the key fob, yes I have had that too, they do wear out, they get pressed a lot, and do eventually fail, all it takes is a replacement, it's not hard really.

I see that people keep mentioning spending money on replacing bushes here and there, well here's a tip... buy a complete arm, I get them for around 20-25 quid from local Motor Factors, that way you save on labour costs, they undo a couple of bolts, and a nut, old one off, new one on, jobs a good 'un.

As for the water coming into the boot on rainy days when you open the lid, well there are many many many cars out there, that have exactly the same problem, it's only due to the shape of the bootlid!

Would you rather have a car the shape of a box? well... if so buy an old rover 213 (like Hyacinth Bucket) and drive a proper old persons car, because it's obvious you would rather have practicality over style (why did you buy one?)

HEGO or oxygen sensors are common problems on these cars, as with ANY car on the market, and to the person that has excessive fuel consumption, this is probably where to look first, will either be this or the MAF (mass air flow sensor)

if one or both is not reading the right values, it will dump more fuel into the engine if it thinks it's running lean, or less fuel if it thinks it's running rich.

Now that my rant is over, let's all remind ourselves, if your buying ANY car, the test drive is essential, anything untoward, and walk away.

When buying ANY car do a bit of research yes, but DIFFERENTIATE between problems to look out for, and wear parts!

Just because a bush is known to go, doesn't make it a bad car and one to avoid!

Choose wisely and have some fun!

I have just purchased a 2000 1.7 Puma.

All that needed doing was 4 new tyres and a set of brake pads and this car drives like brand new. 60000 on the clock and not a problem with it.

Last owner had a problem with the key fob so he bought a new fob £20 and fixed.

I agree it is a drivers car and one to be enjoyed.

We've bought a 2001 Puma with 77k on the clock - £1800 quid. After a good clean and a full service/timing belt change, it feels as good as new and it drives far better than any car I've owned before - and I've had a 740 BMW!

Each journey is a pleasure behind the wheel. If you expect to own a car that they finished making in 2002 and not to have any problems with it, cloud cuckoo land should be your home address.

A cracking motor that, like any other, stays cracking if you invest some time, love and affection into it.

Get bargain fun - try to ensure you're not buying anything that's been thrashed and you won't forget it.

I drive a 98 Puma... I replaced the standard 15 inch alloys with 17 inch alloys; it was the best thing I ever did!

I think a lot of the complaints listed here can be filed under wear and tear. It's a mechanical beast, things break...

Yes, the parcel shelf is a pain and having water run into the boot when you open it in the rain is also annoying. Can I live with this? Most definitely.

Pulling away from standing traffic and accelerating hard in first, dropping it into third and then cruising along at the limit is always a thrill for me. Even more so when I check my mirror and see how far behind me the rest of the traffic is.

I love this car, sad but true.

Hi, I've had my '98 Puma for nearly for 6 years now and having done nearly 110,000 miles in it I have to say (sad I know), but I love it to bits.

It hasn't EVER let me down and there is not a person who hasn't had a smile on their face after taking it for a little spin...

Great Cars...

Hi guys, just after a bit of advice really... I have a 1.7 Puma with 56,000 on the clock and it has recently started to play up. At a constant throttle position, the TC and ABS lights come on and all the external lights get bright and the blower comes on at full blast with hot air only. The problem can be cured by switching on the heated windscreens or dropping a gear and planting it. The dash dials then reset by going round to max/min and then it starts working as normal again. I guess it is an electrical fault but can't work out what's causing it... Any advice would be great... Thanks.

Just got a Puma - 2000 1.7 lovely car, 100k on the clock paid £1070 off ebay. I'm a new driver so I'm not gonna blame the car for any problems, the only little problems I have found are:

1) Rear visibility, which I guess is the price you for the beautiful shape of the car..

2) A problem I want advice on (please) headlights seem poor, I have replaced with brand new ones from Halfords and I have adjusted the setting inside the car, I think the height at the back of the car effects the light as they seem to point to lower.. any advice..???

3) The car sometimes stalls in first gear (again I am a new driver) this tends to happen in the first 2 minutes off the engine been started only..

Now on to the GREAT points, firstly it looks really good, MPG is good, acceleration in 2nd and 3rd is good 1st gear as well if you don't mind a bit of noise from the engine. This is a fun car to drive, it ain't expensive to run, it's good value.

Overall 8/10 could do with better light dispersion, 8/10 is a good mark in my opinion as you'd probably pay a lot more for 10/10.

Hi there.

Bought a puma 1.7 R reg 6 months ago and it's lovely!

The lady that sold me it mentioned a lot of the common faults everybody else seems to be bringing up. Water getting in the car turned out to be door seals which she had replaced.

IMPORTANT: one common fault seems to be that the revs maintain or shoot up when you press the clutch, especially on the motorway after high revs have been maintained for a while. It took my garage 3 diagnostics test to figure out it was the throttle sensor, which is really cheap to replace! (part, about £35)

Also the radio used to switch itself off whenever it felt like it (she told me about this). I however figured out the front sometimes comes loose (the buttons 2-5) and just need pushing back in.

This car can be thrown around corners and loves the motorway, it is great and I love it, it just doesn't like speed bumps very much (get a strange noise from the front which apparently isn't the suspension)! Also it is true that when opening the boot in rain, the water from the roof gushes in, but never mind! Only cost me £920 and drives superb.

I've had my T regd 1.7 Puma for three years now. I've given it regular oil changes and a new clutch £350. I smile every time I drive it, it's SOOO much fun.

Guess I've been lucky over 3 years not having any of the problems mentioned, no funny smells, wet patches or water ingress.

Had 2 mark two Golf GTi's before this, and didn't think this much fun could be had again unless you have lots of money. I was so wrong.

Clutch main expense; £350, tyres, brakes, normal wear and tear.

Done 150,000 miles, now reckoning it'll reach 250,000 easily. Regular oil changes and a little slick 50, still looks sounds drives great, maybe just lucky.

Ooh I have changed one headlight bulb and sidelight bulb, AND given the insides of the headlights a wipe, now they're good again. In fact so good clear and bright that I'm happy I didn't purchase the more expensive brighter bulbs, as they may be too bright for other drivers.

It still does 137, yes not 127, leaves all little hot hatches in the shade without any modifications.

LOVE IT, DRIVE IT, I do lucky me x.

Re T reg lucky Puma.

Oh and a starter motor last year when it did let me down. But that's all it was. Don't get one off a boy racer type.