Ford: ********* Car Dealer (Stay away if you can)

STAY AWAY FROM FORD - ********* car dealer.

I was warned by a couple of people before I bought their car, I was also warned to get rid of the car much earlier in its life-time and I didn't listen. Now I am regretting. Dear Friends, this is an Alarm, be warned!! Don't be like me.

I wish I could give a zero rating, but sadly that option is not available.

I have a 2015 Ford Focus 1.0 Ambiente. The car has a great service record with certified service centres, most of which is the dealer itself. According to Ford, the car should be serviced after 20,000km (or 12 months), and at this time, the car should have been serviced at least 11 times. The car was purchased in June 2015 and I have been the only owner.

Based on the warnings (from people) I have received before regarding this brand, I made an effort to service the car more than required, thinking I will be saved from possible trouble, however, the very thing I feared most soon caught-up with me. I have serviced the car 14 times, which is 3 more times than required (where minor services were done at 10,000km or 6 months).

On the 25/07/2024, I took the car to Action Ford Roodepoort for a 200,000km service. Exactly a year later, on the 22/07/2025 (a Tuesday), I took the car to the same dealer again (Action Ford Roodepoort) for a 220,000km service. My Service Consultant was Isaac Motsepe. Three days later, on the 25/07/2025 (a Friday), which was less than 100km after the service, the car displayed a low oil pressure warning light, and immediately switched off the engine and stopped in the middle of the road. The car was immediately towed back to the dealer for diagnostics.

On Monday (28/07/2025), first thing in the morning, I quickly went to the dealer and asked to check the engine oil, in the presence of the Service Consultant (Isaac Motsepe). Guess what: the engine oil was as dirty and dark as it could be - the car had not been serviced, despite having been invoiced and paid the full amount (R3,9k). Isaac saw this and could barely explain why that was the case. Anyway, I waited for the whole week for a diagnostic report without any feedback. Losing my patience, I went to the dealer on Friday (01/08/2025), first thing in the morning to demand the report. Isaac then gives me a postmortem report. Guess what: the engine is dead, it needs replacement at a cost of R175,333.69. What?? The car's book value is nothing more than R115k already.

Anyway, I phoned a couple of independent service centres for a second opinion and 3 of them explained my situation exactly, even before I could go further with my story, as if they were prophets. They narrated how, in the last 6 months or so, they had dealt with this Ford Focus (and Fiesta) issue from different clients, and that I was just one of many.

Now, why would one take their car to the manufacturer for service, where the cost of services is much higher than other services centres? Precisely to safeguard from having to deal with maintenance errors. Having taken the car to the dealer, why was I not made aware of the looming disaster of my car's engine total failure? Why did they not service my car on the 220,000km service appointment, and why was I charged?

Why is Ford not being honest with their clients about possible design, manufacturing or maintenance requirement errors with these engines? Or is it possible that Ford is not aware?

This is scandalous!!!