13 Day Old Brand New Ford Focus TDCi Just Died

[iceman29]

I got my tonic blue Ford Focus TDCi with Powershift from Ford Pampamga last October 29, 2009. I was very happy with my purchase, it had the power i wanted and the handling was superb.
Then on Nov 8, 2009... the driver window wouldn't go all the back way up and have to keep on pressing the button to finally make it close all the way. it was minor so i thought it'll just get worked out during the 1000 PMS check.

But on Nov 10, 2009...
I was just crusing on Romulo highway on the way back to Tarlac at 5 PM running at around 70 to 80 kph, i was preparing to overtake a slow moving truck, engine rpm was about 2200 and then it suddenly drop to zero... engine malfunction light came on... steering wheel started to lock up, brakes also hard... no power at all... ESP, oil light, and battery light indicators all came on... ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND... was able to forced the wheel to point to the shoulder and bearly able to park on it... turned the key back to off (I) i turned off the radio and air con... tried to restart... it cranks but it never starts... upon turning key, "engine malfunction" already showing before cranking... that's all that happened... a bit shocked with the incident... stayed in the car the whole 3 hours waiting for the tow truck to arrive. the towing service brought the unit back to Ford Pampanga but i didn't go with them anymore.

I'm really disappointed with this brand new car... it had no business just dying in the middle of the highway running at speed... it is unsafe...

I went to Ford Pampanga the following day... they couldn't diagnose the problem of the vehicle yet and couldn't make it start... They apologized for what happened and they gave me a loaner (2007 Ford Focus Trend automatic). I told them that even if they repair the unit, i wouldn't accept it back anymore... I Do Not Feel Safe with it anymore..... they said they'll still have to finish their reports and try to fix the car... I got Ford Philippines number from them and tried to call them the whole day Thursday but never got a return call but i left them several messages.

The casa said there was an error P0606 coming out of their diagnostics...it could be the fuel line, eletrical or the PCM (computer box, i guess)...

On Friday, I was finally able to talk to a Mr. Carillo from Ford Philippines and i told him my concern that the unit was unsafe and would prefer a replacement unit instead of that one... He said he'll give me a callback...
In the afternoon... A Ms. Joyce Laxamana called me up and said the company has decided not to replace the unit and would try to repair it instead... I told them that i'm in touch with a lawyer and we'd pursue a case against the company and opt instead for a full refund if they insist on giving me back that unit... but she said that the company would still follow their policy of repairing the vehicle... Ms Laxamana said that she'll give a diesel automatic loaner instead of the Ford Focus Trend that Ford Pampanga gave me...

I bought this brand new vehicle for peace of mind, i got their 5 year extended warranty and even bought the Act of God insurance for it...

But to have it die on me in the middle of the highway??? it's UNSAFE...
What if it happened again even if they replace the PCM which they said they've isolated to be problem yesterday... What if i was on SCTEX and a car was tailgating me at speed or worse a Bus behind me on EDSA, my engine suddenly dies again... i couldn't go to the shoulder fast enough and get hit from behind... what's all that insurance and warranty when i am dead... the company wouldn't be talking to me anymore but to my family and their lawyer..

sorry for a long post.. i just wanted to get my point accross...

[scharnhorst]

Keep in touch with your lawyer. May "Lemon law" ang Pilipinas.

btw, it seems more likely to be an electrical or ecu problem. hindi kaya binaha yung unit na yan?

[iceman29]

I specifically asked if this was from Ford Libis which was flooded during Ondoy... and both Ford Pampanga and Ford Libis are owned by the Laus Group... they said it came straight from their car assembly plant in Santa Rosa.

Sad to say... there is no Lemon Car Law in the Philippines.. it was passed by the senate but not by Congress and it never made it into law... only thing we have is the Consumer Act of 1991...

Does anyone know anyone from DTI, they appear to be the lead agency in Consumer protection here.

[niky]

Man that sucks... but even if the Lemon Law was passed... the rule would have been "three strikes"... since this is the first strike, it wouldn't have helped you.

I can understand your feelings, though... if my brand new car did that, I wouldn't want it back, either!

[Djerms]

Uy nakakatakot ito ah. Though this is the first time that I knew of such case. I'll be monitoring this thread as we just got our TDCi this last month.

[renzo_d10]

They could be lying. It might have been flooded then ford didn't repair it fully or missed some parts I guess....

Yes it is very unsafe, good thing you're just still running at 70-80kph at that time ( which is also unsafe ) but what if you're running at let's say around 150-180kph. Damn you'll end up in a morgue by just driving you're newly bought vehicle.

I have a number of DTI here ( 751-3330 ) just not sure if it's still working.

If I were in your case, I wouldn't want to get the car back either. My life is in stake in driving that crappy brand new vehicle.

Goodluck on your fight though, and may you have a safe driving experience with the " temporary " replacement vehicle that ford has given to you.

Drive safe.

[parakitoJDM]

wow that must had been a horrible experience...esp. fm. a brand new car. what a great way of Ford to ruin your Focus TDCi experience... do let us know how it turns out.

ask how can the PCM (aka ECU or computer box) fail in such a short period of time, didn't they do reliability testing?

[iceman29]

they're ordering a PCM from Thailand... but i told them that i don't want that unit anymore....
I'm gonna try to talk later to the DTI officer here in Tarlac and ask for help regarding this later....

[1997]

baka nabaha yung unit na yan or Lemon talaga...

[iceman29]

i've talked to the DTI office here in Tarlac but i need to get in touch with their arbitration officer... a Mr. Lactad in Angeles... (who isn't answering calls or text)...
I've again talked to Ms. Laxamana from Ford who are still insisting to give me back my "road worthy" unit.... and they offered to give me free extended warranty... F***K me!... i bought the extended warranty from my dealer already!!!!! she said she wasn't aware of that and offered me a reimbursement instead!... it's all a go-around...
i'm extremely frustrated and DTI hasn't been any help... and my lawyer said, it's still up to DTI for now....

does anyone here know of someone who could help with DTI?

[oliver1013]

Kung kala kalampag, o ingay lang sana ok, pero dude delikado yung nangyari sayo, dapat ibahin yung protocol sayo. Kung ako rin nasa kalagayan mo parehas lang tayo ng reaction. You have a very strong case.

[baludoy]

i feel for the TS. the car dying on you on a major thoroughfare is definitely a gut wrenching experience...especially if you're w/ your loved ones at that particular moment

too bad he's being given the runaround by all parties concerned. i hope he gets that new replacement asap

[Altis6453]

i've talked to the DTI office here in Tarlac but i need to get in touch with their arbitration officer... a Mr. Lactad in Angeles... (who isn't answering calls or text)...
I've again talked to Ms. Laxamana from Ford who are still insisting to give me back my "road worthy" unit.... and they offered to give me free extended warranty... F***K me!... i bought the extended warranty from my dealer already!!!!! she said she wasn't aware of that and offered me a reimbursement instead!... it's all a go-around...
i'm extremely frustrated and DTI hasn't been any help... and my lawyer said, it's still up to DTI for now....

does anyone here know of someone who could help with DTI?

Dude, ask your lawyer to personally accompany you to DTI. I don't buy this BS that they can't act on your complaint immediately. If they do take their sweet time, you can tell them to either act on it now, or act on it when you come back with media.

[fordism2009]

I would like to call an attention to the service dept...
After 3 days of Ondoy I brought my Focus to Libis...pero bago ko dalhin sa dealer nag text ako sa sales agent ko regarding insurance claim...but prior to that the agent told me not to worry about it coz it's covered with AOG (act of God).Syempre panatag ako at naniwala ako naman ako...nung papunta na ko sa Libis the agent called me saying my unit is not covered by the insurance (di man lang binigyan ako ng option kung gusto ko ng may AOG,so beware of their insurance co.)...so all my excitement washed out. They don't even warned me not to connect the battery,nagawa ko na i connect para lang mababa ko yung windows, kasi pina tow ko lang sa anak ko...So nandoon na nga...after i think 5 days or week, the Service Advisor called me saying that the only problem is the RCM, so a after a couple or so days I went down there & checked what's the problem, so they start the engine,this time they said PCM problem now, so I observe it, at cold start the RPM is around 2k,after i think 30secs the RPM slows down to 800, I tried to revv it to 3k & it sounds fine naman, then turned on the aircon eh ok rin...ewan k kung bakit ko biglang kunan ng pix un module without knowing them...Anyways so the SA asked me if I'm willing to replace the RCM, syempre tinanong ko muna yung price, they said 11K,wow malapit sa katotohan...syempre nag order ako. After a long wait...the SA phoned me again saying there's another problem,now the PCM is really a problem,so i asked the price of that module,eh na shocked ako 125k!****! parang na Ondoy ulit ako! dahil gusto makatipid eh hininge ko yung mga part nos.nung mga papalitan baka sakali may makuha ako sa Banawe....so nag decide na ko ipalinis na lang yung interior(by the way the flood went up 4in. below the headlights only)...



pull out ko na...actually may discover ako yung hininge kong part nos.iba doon sa na pix ko...Ford Libis explain this!!! di ko kasi ma take na ganoon ang magagastos ko. Again they said it will take another couple of weeks for detailing...o sya sige na hintayan na naman! Eto na tumawag na ulit sabi ok na raw yung interior, this time I'm totally disappointed to what I saw in my interior, ang dumi! puro hawak ng kamay na may langis, may foot mark pa ng cat,my spot ng oil yung driver's seat at may scratch pa sa front bumper ko...na bwusit ako so I asked an advice with friend Lawyer I have been told to make an complaint letter to them...so pina ulit ko sa kanila...biro mo nag bayad ako ng 38K para sa ganitong trabaho!!take note sa 38k na yan, change oil, replaced spark plugs,gear oil, air filter and drained my fuel (sayang 1/2 tank pa laman) at carpet cleaning (it cost for 6K). Yung detailing pwede ko sana ipagawa sa mga auto spa (2.5-3K lang)...sooo I waited againnn...eto na naman ako, this time muntik na maging OK, meron pa rin spot ng oil yung driver seat! at napansin ko may engine check at battery incator na sa instrument panel at may additional defect na naman yung GEM module naman!! sabi nila ganon daw talaga unpredictable ang defects, yung driver side window ko di na nag function unlike before...so asar na asar na ko! balik naman after 4 days, nag text sila na ok na yung unit ko...so ayun naiuwi ko na kahit irratic yung idling ko...meron na naman problema yung matting ko parehong pang kanan!nainis na naman ako!! the next day I decided to pull down the PCM na shocked ako kasi nabuksan na nila yung PCM ko!!ngayon for the benefit of the doubt,lumusob ako sa dealer confront with Customer Relation & the head mechanic...sabi nila it's SOP daw nila yon to tamper the PCM...pero ang point ko dapat pinaalam man lang sa client na bubuksan nila yung PCM...pano tayo makaka siguro na intact yung original parts ng car may friend ako who used to work in other prestigious car dealer,told me there's some anomalies in service dept like switching parts or they just repaired it then charge you for new parts...ewan ko sa mga experts...in your opinion possible ba magkaroon ng switching?ilipat sa ibang unit yung PCM mo?as far as I know ire-reprogram lang yun or clear lang yung error codes...sa palagay nyo? Ewan ko kung ako lang nagkaroon ng bad experience sa casa, na akala ko your in good hand...eh Ondoy victim na kami! parang na Ondoy ulit kami sa loob ng casa!!!Right now I'm going to send my PCM to other auto shop for repair, well at my own risk! IMPROVE YOUR SERVICE Ford Libis! nakakadala kayo!

[scharnhorst]

Ford Pampanga and Ford Libis are both Laus Group managed.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[medel_mis]

Good to hear about the positive outcome...

[kisshmet]

congratulations to consumers who experienced similar situation who chose to stand up & fight for their rights & were VICTORIOUS

got a full refund on my grand livina purchase which has gone BAD

[stync]

boss iceman pwede po kayo magreklamo sa DTI pwede niyo papalitan yan ng bago unit... nung june 17 2009 bumili rin ako yamaha na scooter sa kasawiang palad eh pumalya 3 days pa lang sa akin breaking period inabutan ako problema ayaw umaandar.sa sobra galit ko kase ayaw nila asikasuhin na palitan ng bagong unit nagrequest ako na palitan kaso ayaw nila palitan ginawa ko nagreklamo ako sa DTI ginawa nung dti offcial tumawag sila don sa yamaha at sabi bukas punta daw ako sa opisina at papalitan ng bago pero yung speedometer eh yun pa rin ang gagamitin pumayag na ako kesa hinde palitan ng buong unit

[freshngreen]

SAME THING HAPPENED to us after 24hrs purchasing a BRAND NEW FORD FOCUS TDCI....NAG OVER HEAT!!!!....

[baludoy]

^wow...ano nangyari, sir? you informed your dealer about this?