Discussion
Ok, to cut a long story I collected my race red auto form Norwich Ford last week. Brilliant drive, home. Engine sounded good and it corners a lot better than I thought it would. Took it easy, just like the salesman said. Went round a few friends houses as you do when you've got a new toy and probably put 150 miles or so on it. However, when I backed it out of the garage on Sunday my wife noticed the windscreen had split from the top edges and was halfway down the screen. There was no impact damage whatsoever. I spoke with the dealership who suggested I go there today so that they can photograph it and make a warranty claim on my behalf.
I left home this morning, put petrol in it and drove along the A11 towards the Thickthorn roundabout. Peeled off down the A47 and came off at the first exit, the B1108, towards Norwich on the Earlham Road. After 1/4 mile the engine hesitated, dashboard lights went out and basically the car shut down. At this point the car filled with smoke and I pulled into a long lay-by right on the edge of Norwich. By now flames were coming out of the near side of the bonnet and there was smoke everywhere. I grabbed my phone and other things to hand, jumped out and called the fire brigade. Now the fire was really getting going and you know what, I felt absolutely helpless. I also have an old Capri and it is fitted with an extinguisher, but it never occurred to me to carry one in the Mustang.
Within about 5 or 6 minutes they arrived and put the ever growing fire out. They said that in another 5 minutes the car would have gone completely. They immediately suggested electrical fault, but who knows?
I am absolutely gutted. I thought long and hard about affordability and my wife and I had discussed my purchase of a cherished car for months. Then the chance to buy this Mustang came up. I'm 50, but never had my own new car, let alone a Mustang! After being recovered, with difficulty, as I'd put it in "park" and with no electrics, the gear shifter was locked and I was unable to lift the centre consul to operate the manual override button, it is now with the dealership. They themselves were horrified and concerned, obviously. The car is no where near a right off. Hopefully it is not as bad as it could be but I've already been told that it is not a quick fix and will take many, many weeks.
I assume that someone in Ford will require a very comprehensive report from whoever, as to the root cause to make sure it was an isolated incident?
I have lots of pictures but I can't get them to upload and in any case, I don' t think I want to.
As soon as I find out what happened, I'll post up here. Hopefully it will be helpful to other people.
I left home this morning, put petrol in it and drove along the A11 towards the Thickthorn roundabout. Peeled off down the A47 and came off at the first exit, the B1108, towards Norwich on the Earlham Road. After 1/4 mile the engine hesitated, dashboard lights went out and basically the car shut down. At this point the car filled with smoke and I pulled into a long lay-by right on the edge of Norwich. By now flames were coming out of the near side of the bonnet and there was smoke everywhere. I grabbed my phone and other things to hand, jumped out and called the fire brigade. Now the fire was really getting going and you know what, I felt absolutely helpless. I also have an old Capri and it is fitted with an extinguisher, but it never occurred to me to carry one in the Mustang.
Within about 5 or 6 minutes they arrived and put the ever growing fire out. They said that in another 5 minutes the car would have gone completely. They immediately suggested electrical fault, but who knows?
I am absolutely gutted. I thought long and hard about affordability and my wife and I had discussed my purchase of a cherished car for months. Then the chance to buy this Mustang came up. I'm 50, but never had my own new car, let alone a Mustang! After being recovered, with difficulty, as I'd put it in "park" and with no electrics, the gear shifter was locked and I was unable to lift the centre consul to operate the manual override button, it is now with the dealership. They themselves were horrified and concerned, obviously. The car is no where near a right off. Hopefully it is not as bad as it could be but I've already been told that it is not a quick fix and will take many, many weeks.
I assume that someone in Ford will require a very comprehensive report from whoever, as to the root cause to make sure it was an isolated incident?
I have lots of pictures but I can't get them to upload and in any case, I don' t think I want to.
As soon as I find out what happened, I'll post up here. Hopefully it will be helpful to other people.
It was a V8. My wife runs a BMW M135 I and my initial impression is that the Mustang would stay with it in a straight line. Although the Mustang is surprisingly good round the corners, it would never stay with the Bimmer through corners.
Anyway I've got a couple of photos now which I'll upload later.
Incidentally, I assume the car will be returned to me in it's previous as new condition? I ask because the interior obviously stunk of smoke and the inside of the dials filled up with smoke and the inner wing looked to be damaged. If it smells, can I insist it is not right? Also, when I called Ford assistance for recovery I reminded them that I was still insured through Ford's own 7 day insurance scheme and that maybe I should inform them. They replied it wasn't necessary as the warranty would be sorting it?
Is that correct? Is there no need to tell the insurance company as such? Obviously I'll speak to Ford Customer Services on Monday, when they re-open, but I'm impatient!
Anyway I've got a couple of photos now which I'll upload later.
Incidentally, I assume the car will be returned to me in it's previous as new condition? I ask because the interior obviously stunk of smoke and the inside of the dials filled up with smoke and the inner wing looked to be damaged. If it smells, can I insist it is not right? Also, when I called Ford assistance for recovery I reminded them that I was still insured through Ford's own 7 day insurance scheme and that maybe I should inform them. They replied it wasn't necessary as the warranty would be sorting it?
Is that correct? Is there no need to tell the insurance company as such? Obviously I'll speak to Ford Customer Services on Monday, when they re-open, but I'm impatient!
Uk Robert said:
It was a V8. My wife runs a BMW M135 I and my initial impression is that the Mustang would stay with it in a straight line. Although the Mustang is surprisingly good round the corners, it would never stay with the Bimmer through corners.
Anyway I've got a couple of photos now which I'll upload later.
Incidentally, I assume the car will be returned to me in it's previous as new condition? I ask because the interior obviously stunk of smoke and the inside of the dials filled up with smoke and the inner wing looked to be damaged. If it smells, can I insist it is not right? Also, when I called Ford assistance for recovery I reminded them that I was still insured through Ford's own 7 day insurance scheme and that maybe I should inform them. They replied it wasn't necessary as the warranty would be sorting it?
Is that correct? Is there no need to tell the insurance company as such? Obviously I'll speak to Ford Customer Services on Monday, when they re-open, but I'm impatient!
I would push Ford hard for a new car ... there is no reason for you to have to accept a repaired car, you end up with effectively an accident damaged car through no fault of your own.Anyway I've got a couple of photos now which I'll upload later.
Incidentally, I assume the car will be returned to me in it's previous as new condition? I ask because the interior obviously stunk of smoke and the inside of the dials filled up with smoke and the inner wing looked to be damaged. If it smells, can I insist it is not right? Also, when I called Ford assistance for recovery I reminded them that I was still insured through Ford's own 7 day insurance scheme and that maybe I should inform them. They replied it wasn't necessary as the warranty would be sorting it?
Is that correct? Is there no need to tell the insurance company as such? Obviously I'll speak to Ford Customer Services on Monday, when they re-open, but I'm impatient!
if the fire was caused by a faulty component, then it probably is a warranty claim but call the insurers just in case.
and put everything in writing
Sorry to hear, not a great start to your ownership to say the least. It will get sorted obviously.
I'm with SFO - push for a new replacement. I'd be done with the one you had.
Would be good to know the cause once determined. It will have wider implications if its something that could affect other UK Mustangs.
I'm with SFO - push for a new replacement. I'd be done with the one you had.
Would be good to know the cause once determined. It will have wider implications if its something that could affect other UK Mustangs.
Sorry to hear about your troubles.
I think your best approach is to use the new Consumer Rights Act and just reject it. That way you should avoid any insurance claim. If it's had a fire I wouldn't think you would want it back.
Then pressure Ford to get you an early re-order, with possibly a loan vehicle in the meantime. I think they are going to be pretty twitchy over this.
My UCL GT Fastback (Ruby) had a build date of 12 Aug and is still in the States, as far as anyone can tell!
I think your best approach is to use the new Consumer Rights Act and just reject it. That way you should avoid any insurance claim. If it's had a fire I wouldn't think you would want it back.
Then pressure Ford to get you an early re-order, with possibly a loan vehicle in the meantime. I think they are going to be pretty twitchy over this.
My UCL GT Fastback (Ruby) had a build date of 12 Aug and is still in the States, as far as anyone can tell!
Firstly I'm sorry to hear that you have had such an issue, must have been scary. You have protection from 1st October 2015 a new law came into effect, you can reject the vehicle if it had a major fault at time of delivery (its ability to spontaneously combust is just such a fault). The dealer or finance company are the sellers its nothing to do with Ford. look on the Honest John website it has all the details. Please take the vin number if you reject it will be interesting to see if the vehicle reappears onto the market.
As a general comment and saying that there is no "previous" on US vehicles i wonder if it has something to do with the looms being re-routed for right hand drive ?? it would be interesting to see if the fire started on the drivers side. Any company which uses CAD for design purposes and then finds out that their is a clash between the manifold and steering column may not have manufactured a loom that differs in that it is designed to route around the UK spec steering column, rather than be pulled out of the way…..just a theory.
i feel a recall coming on………..
As a general comment and saying that there is no "previous" on US vehicles i wonder if it has something to do with the looms being re-routed for right hand drive ?? it would be interesting to see if the fire started on the drivers side. Any company which uses CAD for design purposes and then finds out that their is a clash between the manifold and steering column may not have manufactured a loom that differs in that it is designed to route around the UK spec steering column, rather than be pulled out of the way…..just a theory.
i feel a recall coming on………..
MY New Vert 5 ltr V8 will have to go back into the shop (Is that what I have to call a garage now?) the drivers window isn't seating in the roof rubbers theres is a half inch difference between the height of the drivers and passangers windows….i thought it was a bit noisey. Just hope they will sort it ASAP it will just be an adjustment.
TimewarpUK said:
I hope Ford supply you with a new car ASAP
They should .. but how quick is ASAP going to be ? This was a cancelled order car bought straight off the showroom floor. Unless the dealership can source a replacement with an acceptable spec that's already UK and available then its potentially the 9 month wait that's still quoted for all V8 orders ? I guess the OP may be exploring all options including a refund.Roo said:
Try resetting the window heights yourself first before taking it back to the dealers.
Quite a common problem.
Correct. The reset routine on the 2005 was run the window down while holding the switch down for 2 seconds after it is down, then run it up while holding the switch up for 2 seconds after it is up. Don't know if 2015 is the same.Quite a common problem.
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