2003 Ford Mondeo TCDi from UK and Ireland - Comments

Alarm defective.

Purchased Mondeo Graphite 12 weeks ago.

Car broken into, alarm never went off.

Informed by Ford mechanic that there was a fault with the new Mondeo alarm system -

Thieves place a screwdriver down the side of the door lock which inactivates the cental double locking.

Ford are aware of the fault, but deny that there has been any reports from the Ford Dealers. When I gave them the report from their Ford mechanic, they denied they their had been any complaints. Yet after my phonecall they contacted the mechanic and he was warned about giving us information about the alarm fault.

I will be taking legal action, and will get an independent inspection of the car.

I wonder has anybody else had problems with the alarm on the new shape Mondeo.

I would strongly advise people to have their alarm checked.

Sorry to hear about your break-in. However, most anti-theft systems can be overcome by force, particularly "pry-in" theft which involves putting screw drivers and slide hammers through the door itself to fiddle with the mechanisms behind. No car is immune to this. Unfortunately most security testing by both manufacturers and car magazines is non-destructive which is sadly completely irrelevant in the real world.

I have a mondeo and again it was broken into they stole the cd player and my linisfarne cd, again the alarm never went off because they broke in through the window, the doors are unopenable on the mondeo when the deadlock system is inplace so the only way to get in is via the windows, like most cars they don't have the old style motion sensors incase you leave pets in the car, but I think the should fit them anyway.

I Have had my Mondeo broken into 5 times in 14 months by the same method (screwdriver through the side of the lock. It has just been done again an hour ago in broad daylight. 12.00 midday. On one occasion my laptop was stolen. I'm getting to the end of my wits now.

Dave Darwin.

I have also had this happen to me, screwdriver pushed through the lock. Am contacting many media companies (watchdog etc) at the moment and urge anyone with the problem to do the same. I have had my car broken into this way twice in 3 months since buying the car brand new. Can't afford to keep claiming for the stereo. Ford denies there is a problem. I know of 7 other mondeos this has happened to.

No car is totally secure, and once the weakness is discovered, the thieving scum spread the word around. With the Mondeo it happens to be a screwdriver through the door lock. Other cars require different methods, but all equally effective. If you think a car thief walks past a Honda Accord for example and thinks "I won't bother stealing that wallet on the passenger seat, because I don't know how to get into this car", you're sadly mistaken. They'll get in, even if it means chucking a brick through the window. And let's face it, banging a screwdriver through the door is no less conspicuous or violent an action.

It doesn't matter what car you drive, if a thief is prepared to inflict damage to get into your car, you may as well have left the thing unlocked. Car security is an oxymoron.

I would suggest fitting after market Thatcham approved alarm systems and get the standard factory alarm disabled. Moreover, there are also other new security devices available to capture the persistent thief in action, which will be enough to prosecute.

Ford Mondeo's Alarm system. So I'm not the only one. My car is currently waiting for another £450 door repair after a meeting with a screwdriver. Double locking non-existing along with a silent alarm. Surely Ford could be prosecuted under the trades description act. My car is covered with stickers telling the world what fantastic systems are fitted. Pity they don't work.

As an 1987 Escort driver, I have found the best remedy is to de-lock the car and use security film on the windows, MAKE IT OBVIOUS THAT YOU HAVE THE FILM ADVERTISED! It's an expensive option, but they haven't got into my car yet. Unfortunately at £45 a time for the windows, it's an expensive option. The pratts around this area are getting the message that my car is virtually impenetrable! I chain the steering wheel to the seat, and have wheel clamps.

I had a VW Golf 2003 model where same thing happend to me. Srewdriver through lock. I actually never knew what happend before a friend ask med to try to lock the frond driver door. This was 3 months later. I always use the remote.

I don't think Ford are the only with this defect in their alarm.

Rune - Norway.

I sympathise with you all. The world is full of scumbag no-hopers.

I'm not being rude, but leaving wallets, laptops etc on view in a parked car is very silly and asking for trouble. The fact that you can open the mondeo's door with a screwdriver is irrelivant really. Yes it gives cabin access by why would you want that if there were no items on display? I think the cars immobiliser is very effective. I have no personal intrest in Ford and I drive a vauxhall.

This mirrors my experience exactly with a 2004 Ghia Estate. Screwdriver through drivers door lock disables everything. The Police confirmed this was a known Mondeo weakness and thieves targeted them. Amazing in this day and age that a car can be so vulnerable. I remember my Father having his mark 2 Cortina stolen in 1970. Police said something very similar to him then. So much for progress!