2004 Ford Falcon BA XLS Ute 1 ton spec from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Needed a new engine due to valve springs were too soft and broke.

Gearbox had to be replaced because it refused to go into reverse and the shift quality was terrible.

Rear diff needed to be replaced.

New engine had an oil leak.

The stereo and air conditioner decided to go on holidays.

It has stalled on me 6 times and ecu needed to be reflashed with the latest software.

Brake shudder is really annoying.

Steering wheel makes a clunking sound on lock to lock.

I previously had an AU falcon XLS 1 ton spec ute and it has been so reliable had 250,000 on the odometer before I trade it up on this pile of rubbish. This BA ute is comfortable to drive and has a fair bit of go in it. But it keeps on breaking down. I use it for my trademen business and I am losing my profits with this POS. Ford never again you have lost my faith in your company. I am so angry with it.

Mate that's a shame that you have had a dud of a car. I was looking at an RTV Falcon, but instead I went for a turbo diesel Hilux 4x4 not a bad beast at all.

Most of the reviews on the BA Falcon are roten here.

And most of the Au reviews are great!

We own a 1999 au wagon and it's a good car.

The BA is the most hyped up car from Ford.

So why isn't it geting praise!

I think the Au will come out not such a bad car after all!!

I too own a BA Falcon One Toner though mine is on gas, notice I said own and not drive... i can't drive the thing because it's constantly back at the dealers on warranty issues. In the 7 months I've owned it the dealer has had it for roughly 3 months.

I have similar problem as listed above. It stalls whenever I put the clutch in and chop the throttle if I have the air con turned on, it runs out of puff on the highway, meaning I have to stop and give it a few mintutes to recover, kinda like fuel starvation. The fuel gauge is just useless. It had the engine out at only 10,000KMs as it had blown gaskets and seals...6 months down the track it's gotta go back and have the same thing done again.

I'm currently on my 4th engine management system, they keep replacing it, but it doesn't fix anything.

The list goes on...

The dealer has admitted they cannot fix my car... they simply don't know what to do next as they've done everything bar drop a whole new motor etc in there.

Yet Ford will not cough up a replacement or a refund.

In the end I'm stuck with a car I would not sell on to anyone out of respect, I cannot drive it as IMO it's become unsafe (ever had you breaks and power steering fail going through a round-a-bout etc??)

And ford just expect me to cop it sweet...

My first car was a ford, a 1980 escort, it was twice the car this heap of junk is.

I WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN!!!

I have had similar problems with my mark II BA Ute. They look great, but the reliability stinks. Ford usually makes good long lasting cars, but they really have stuffed up with this model. I would never own another Ford ever again.

I to have had a number of simalar problems with my 2003 XL BA ute. I have only got 6 months left on the warranty and hope nothing else goes wrong with it after the warranty runs out. It's a real shame because it actually a very nice ute.

I sent a letter to Ford, but ofcourse did not get a response.

Well once again Ford have proven what heaps of crap they make with the current BA's. If you want a real ute buy a Hilux they are as soild as a rock and have much better resale than any falcon.

Ford= Fix Or Repair Daily.

Regarding your comment about losing power steering and brakes at round abouts, I do know of another car that did this, my dad's VR Commodore. The fault was from a timing sender on the harmonic balancer which failed in hot weather. Thus the car thought its motor was not spinning and promptly turned everthing off! Very scary for my poor dad! The fault was intermittent, so GMH never could located it, and so to fix it - forget about it. Dad persevered, and scored a great VY on runout which has given no problems.

The last and only decent Falcon of modern times was the AU Series 3. Superior interest quality and design to the BA/BF as well. I would't touch a BA or BF at all.