Ford to pay for repairs of EcoBoost engine fault
Ford UK is to cover the full cost of fixing a potential overheating problem, while also refunding customers who have already paid out
Ford is to cover the costs of a fix to prevent an issue with overheating in its 1.0-litre EcoBoost engines.
The fault lies in coolant hoses that can potentially fail at high speed and is said to affect 44,682 cars in the UK built between October 2011 and October 2013.
A recall issued in 2015 has seen 96 per cent of the vehicles reportedly fixed – although a BBC investigation found that many customers had still paid huge repair bills for the work, despite a contribution from the manufacturer.
The firm has now committed itself to covering the costs of any outstanding repairs and will “re-examine previous cases to ensure that this policy of a 100 per cent contribution to the repair cost is applied consistently”.
A Ford statement said: “Our website has carried details to encourage outstanding owners who have experienced an issue to get in touch. Ford has already made substantial contributions towards the cost of 1.0-litre repairs, but ongoing discussions with customers show that Ford needs to go further to ensure reasonable repair costs are covered.
“With any future cases, subject to being assessed and linked to potential 1.0-litre engine overheating, we will contribute 100 per cent of the cost of repair at a Ford dealer.”
The firm also highlighted another overheating issue for larger 1.6-litre EcoBoost engines, as found in the Fiesta ST, Focus, Kuga, C-Max and Transit. It says a lack of coolant circulation in affected vehicles can cause overheating, leading to a cracked cylinder head and pressurised oil leak.
This means oil could come into contact with the hot engine and increase the risk of a fire. Ford is currently working with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to issue a recall, while also contacting customers for a new coolant sensor to be fitted.
