1998 Ford Puma from UK and Ireland - Comments

In the first month engine hesitated at certain revs. Turned out to be a faulty sensor connection which was fixed by the dealer under warranty.

Sometime in 2003 the "open door" indicator came on and stayed on.

Other very minor niggles, but nothing I couldn't live with until this year (2004) then they became serious (i.e. potentially fatal and expensive). May 2004 at about 52K miles the brakes went spongy. Dealer replaced Master Cylinder plus a few other parts costing about £500. Well the car had been good till now so reasoned that it was one of those things.

November 2004 57K miles brakes fail completely. Fortunately this occurred as I was reversing out of a hotel car park and not the day before when I had been doing 70+MPH on the motorway or an hour later when I would have been driving down a mountain road. Recovered to dealer who informs me that the ABS modulator has failed. Cost to me £1,500. Cost to Ford all my future business.

I really loved this car, it was my sixth Ford in twenty odd years of driving and I considered it to be the best car I'd owned (all past tense).

It handled and accelerated well, the ICE was good and for a small car was really quite practical (my mountain bike fitted in the back with the front wheel off).

But these last two incidents have really shaken my confidence in the car and Ford in particular. The dealer contacted Ford Customer Services and then suggested I did as well. After feeling like a tennis ball between the Dealer and Ford Customer Services. I ended up with contradictory information. On Friday they would consider contributing to the repair as it was (just) under 72 months old, on Monday this had changed to no contribution as it was more than 60 months old.

For someone who has taken two Fords around the clock this has been a severe shock and an end to me buying Ford.

If you have one of these I seriously suggest you get rid after 50K miles.

Interesting and eye-opening review. I think it could be the eternal problem of shoddy workmanship at the garage though, this is the bane of all motorists for a decent dealer is rare indeed.

I've had a 1997 Puma from new with no major problems, still drives like new and is the best car I've ever owned.

A batch of 1998 Puma's were recalled by Ford to have the Master Cylinder changed, it seems that you missed this recall and it is the source of your woes, together with undoubtedly shoddy repairs at a Ford dealer.

I own a 1998 r reg puma. It has done 140000 miles and it still drives like new. Its had work done on it, but everything you would expect of a car of this age and miles. Unfortunatly its not very practical and as I am having a baby we need to replace it, but if it wasnt for this we would have definatly kept it. By far the best car I have owned.

I owned a new Puma from 1998 and it was recalled for the brake master cylinder to be replaced, which it was. 4 weeks later the brakes failed on me completely, luckily I was leaving work and was driving at around 10 mph - and the handbrake stopped me within inches of a colleagues car in front. The dealer could not find anything wrong with the brakes after they "pumped the pedal" but I insisted they change all the major braking components which they did. Apart from that - nothing was wrong with the car - save the electrics needed a good spray of WD40 and the usual leaks on the early models. In 3 years the car had done 102,000 miles and the engine never missed a beat.