Manufacturing Defect 2017 Ford Transit Connect 1.5 TDCi

Manufacturing Defect in 2017 Ford Transit Connect 1.5 TDCi Ford South Africa Case Number: ***

I want to warn others about a serious manufacturing defect in the 2017 Ford Transit Connect 1.5 TDCi. The cambelt repeatedly fails well before its expected lifespan of 150,000 km - 200,000km, leading to catastrophic engine damage and costly repairs.

I bought this vehicle second-hand, knowing that the previous owner had already experienced a cambelt failure at around 100,000 km, which resulted in a complete engine replacement by Ford. Believing the issue was resolved, I continued driving the car. However, after just 70,000 km on the new engine, the same problem occurred—the cambelt failed again, destroying the engine. This happened despite maintaining a full service history and minimal load on the vehicle.

Ford refuses to cover the cost of repairs, arguing that I am not a “loyal” customer because I did not service the car at their dealerships every time. However, the cambelt failure is unrelated to routine oil changes and clearly points to a manufacturing defect. Had I been informed that the cambelt could fail after just 70,000 km, I would have proactively replaced it every 50,000 km to avoid the cost and inconvenience of replacing the engine repeatedly.

The repair cost is R113,619, almost as much as the purchase price of the car (R180,000). If I proceed with the repairs, this would be the third engine in under 8 years—an unacceptable outcome for any vehicle.

I am sharing this experience to warn others: Be cautious when buying a Ford. Despite clear evidence of a manufacturing defect, Ford refuses to take responsibility or offer goodwill assistance. I will never purchase a Ford vehicle again. I do not have the money to afford the repairs and will most likely have to s**** the car. R180 000 down the drain. If there is anyone that can help me. Please send me a direct message, I'm not receiving any help from Ford. My vehicle is still sitting at Ford Human Motors Bloemfontein, South Africa.

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