Brand New Ford Ranger Became a 7-Month Nightmare

I honestly cannot explain the level of frustration, disappointment, and stress we have experienced with Ford South Africa.

After more than 22 years of supporting the Ford brand, this is by far the worst experience we have ever had with any vehicle manufacturer.

We took delivery of a brand new 2025 Ford Ranger in October 2025 and within literally days — approximately 6 days after delivery — serious concerns and defects already started appearing. Since then, this vehicle has spent more time at Ford workshops than with us. Endless inspections, repair attempts, assessments, excuses, and back-and-forth visits later, the original problems still remain unresolved.

What makes this even more frustrating is the complete contradiction in Ford’s responses throughout this matter. We are constantly told that the vehicle is “within specification,” yet the same vehicle was later sent to a panel beater for panel alignment corrections under Ford warranty. If everything is supposedly normal and within specification, why was corrective work necessary in the first place?

At this point, it honestly feels as though customers are simply expected to remain quiet and accept whatever explanation Ford provides without question.

Ford has made multiple technical findings and conclusions regarding this vehicle, including allegations that a bonnet protector is supposedly responsible for certain noise concerns. However, despite repeated requests, we have never once been provided with the actual engineering reports, decibel testing results, technical findings, or supporting documentation used to reach these conclusions.

So the question becomes very simple: How can Ford make these findings and expect customers to accept them when they cannot provide the evidence or reports supporting those conclusions?

We have been patient. We have been respectful. We have given Ford every possible opportunity to resolve this matter properly and fairly. But after more than seven months of ongoing issues, enough is enough.

The emotional stress, inconvenience, time wasted, and frustration caused by a brand new vehicle has been absolutely unacceptable. Nobody spends over R1 million on a new vehicle expecting to fight with the manufacturer almost immediately after delivery.

What has disappointed us most is not only the unresolved defects themselves, but the complete lack of accountability, urgency, transparency, and customer care shown throughout this process. Instead of properly addressing concerns, Ford’s approach has often made us feel as though the customer is somehow the problem.

This matter is now being escalated to MIOSA, and we will continue sharing our experience publicly so that other consumers can fully understand what we have had to deal with.

Deeply disappointed is honestly an understatement.