New Car (<3 yrs), Recall Pending preventing major functionality [Ford Kuga]

[Vini]

High level, I purchased a new car, a Ford Kuga Plug In Hybrid in 2022 on Ford PCP. It was bought purely to operate in EV mode, by way of charging as my journeys are predominantly <30 miles (which is about the range offered after a charge). Occasionally I do more miles, but that's the beauty of it being Hybrid.

Ford have issued a recent recall to almost all Kuga vehicles, advising that users refrain from plugging in their vehicle, and charging it. Thus largely changing the functionality of the vehicle. They have advised there is a fix in the works, but not due until Q2 2025 (which could be next month, or 3 months). It's also, only projected. Given the number of vehicles involved, getting the potential fix applied will likely take time too.

Ford have offered zero compensation.

Not being able to charge the vehicle leaves users financially out of pocket. How much differs by how much folks charge. I calculate I stand to be ~£350 out of pocket, assuming it takes ~3 months for the fix to be created and applied.

Is there anything in the consumer rights act that covers this kind of scenario?

Here's a barrage of news articles covering this; https://www.google.com/search?q=Ford...h=1044&tbm=nws

[echat11]

How did you pay for the car?

[Vini]

PCP/Finance with Ford. Which ironically ends in June. There is a guaranteed final value fee with the contract. There is talk of other Kuga owners in the same situation of dealers not accepting the Kuga as a trade in/part ex at present until a fix is released.

[echat11]

PCP/Finance with Ford. Which ironically ends in June. There is a guaranteed final value fee with the contract. There is talk of other Kuga owners in the same situation of dealers not accepting the Kuga as a trade in/part ex at present until a fix is released.

How did you pay the deposit? Credit card?

[Pezza54]

IMO you should now keep a record of all journeys in the Kuga, including dates, mileage of individual journey, petrol receipts.
If there is class action in the future (similar to dieselgate) this info may prove useful to calculate the extra spend (petrol over electricity) that you have incurred

Changes in the price of petrol and electricity would affect the value of any claim

[Vini]

PCP/Finance with Ford. Which ironically ends in June. There is a guaranteed final value fee with the contract. There is talk of other Kuga owners in the same situation of dealers not accepting the Kuga as a trade in/part ex at present until a fix is released.

HSBC Debit, typically.

[echat11]

HSBC Debit, typically.

There will be a complaints procedure on Ford's website,follow that, they should provide details of any other options which are open to you.

[Vini]

Cheers, theres thousands of us affected. Ford don’t care.

I assume they've weighed up leading with compensation, or refraining on the chance very few complain.

I just wondered if there were any legal games that could be played, but I guess not.

[echat11]

Cheers, theres thousands of us affected. Ford don’t care.

I assume they've weighed up leading with compensation, or refraining on the chance very few complain.

I just wondered if there were any legal games that could be played, but I guess not.

If Ford owners with that issue got together, approached a solicitor, then there might be the possibility to launch a 'Group Action' against Ford.
Someone needs to set up a website, get Ford complainants to join and proceed from there. Gather evidence. Get media, motoring journalist
involved. You might not even need to take action, if Ford sees the publicity could effect future sales.

Posted for information only -

https://www.leighday.co.uk/our-services/group-claims/

[Vini]

Apologies for returning to this. Ford still don't care.

My car is financed with Ford Finance. My PCP expires 2nd June, at which point I was intending to pay the balloon payment.

What happens if;

- I withhold the monthly PCP payments until resolved?
- I refrain from paying the balloon payment until resolved?



My assumption is bailiffs and bad credit. But are there any games that can be played around this?

[echat11]

Apologies for returning to this. Ford still don't care.

My car is financed with Ford Finance. My PCP expires 2nd June, at which point I was intending to pay the balloon payment.

What happens if;

- I withhold the monthly PCP payments until resolved?
- I refrain from paying the balloon payment until resolved?



My assumption is bailiffs and bad credit. But are there any games that can be played around this?

Write a Formal Letter of Complaint, explain your position, how Ford has let you down and what you want them to do.

Ms. Lisa Brankin
Managing Director
Ford UK
Lisa.Brankin@ford.com

Once you've done that, if it isn't resolved.

Make a formal complaint with the FOS, that should stop any action, until the FOS makes a decision.