Ford has offered to refund customers whose Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engines have overheated, causing engine failure.
Drivers had been told they had to pay for repairs, but Ford has now said it will cover the cost and refund customers who have already paid. It said it had reworked 96 per cent of affected cars, adding: “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. Furthermore, we will re-examine previous cases to ensure that this policy of a 100 per cent contribution to the repair cost is applied consistently.”
Others have reported their cars with 1.6-litre EcoBoost engines have burst into flames while they were driving. Ford said it had issued a voluntary safety recall through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in January on certain vehicles built between 2010 and 2015 to arrange for a coolant sensor to be fitted. The fault can cause the engine’s cylinder head to crack, which in extreme circumstances could lead to a fire.
Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine was introduced in 2010 and has won 10 international awards. It’s been looked upon as the benchmark for small, fuel-efficient petrol engines, but this may well scare off future buyers. Could it also prevent them surviving as classic cars, or engines being used for transplants? Time will tell…
