My wife has a 2001 Ford focus and we noticed a few months ago a rust spot coming through on the passenger side door tucked up against the wing mirror housing. Knowing that the focus has a 12 year anti corrosion warranty I proceeded to take that up with my local Ford dealership. After many months now on going, my dealership are indicating that if ford do anything it would be classed as a goodwill gesture, it will likely to be us ending up paying 80% of the bill and Ford paying 20%. IÂ’ve since found that this seems to be a common problem on the focus in that area and Fords are certainly aware of the fault, caused at the time of manufacture. How the hell can Ford get away without having to rectify their problem that they have caused. The 12 year anti corrosion warranty is not worth the paper itÂ’s written on and IÂ’m prepared to kick up and create merry hell if they are not prepared to repair the problem. Knowing now of the problem I have been looking at other Focus's, in my works car park the other day there was an 02 model starting to blister the passanger side like my wifes and an 04 plate was starting to rust both passanger and driver's side. If anyone else has a ford focus in their family or with friends in these age brackets I urge you to take a look sooner rather than later and if anyone has any past info or advice on this problem and how to tackle Fords it will be glady welcome. Thanks

sorry to hear it matey,


Bloody p'd off for you!

I used to have a Focus Ghia as a company car, V reg. It had the chrome trim across the back above the number plate. The unlock mechanism sits below this and every time you open or close the boot this strip must flex very slightly and touch the paintwork in the top corners. Mine eventually broke through the paint finish and over time started to bubble and then rust. I wasn't too concerned as it was a company car but Ford did repair it under warranty. Is it a silmilar thing happening on the wing mirror where it joins the bodywork ?

Yes it is mate, I'm also aware of the problem on the focus tail gate, as my mate has a ghia and it is rusting just below the chrome strip that as you say runs across the tailgate,on other models it's just black plastic trim but he's peed off about it, but because he has not got a full main Ford dealership service history he does'nt fancy his chances of Ford putting it right. Speaking to my Ford dealer he indicated the earlier you find out about the problem the more Ford are likely to contribute to the bill. I know we all moan about Renault dealerships but they all seem to be as bad as one another, if they dont put the problem right I would never buy another ford as long as I live.

After being giving the run a round by Ford for the last 4-5 months and going through the proper channels with fords I had a phone call today to say they had considered our claim but are dismissing it on the grounds of the age of the car,the car being six years old, remember the anti corrossion warranty is for 12 years on a Focus. They harp on about it not being classed as perforation rust where by it rusts from inside to out but that is exactly what it is. I will now take legal advice and plan to go through the small claims court if i have to. Ford could have told us within weeks that decision but chose to keep fobbing us off with excuses, What I have learnt though is Ford dont give a toss about their customers and I for one would never buy another Ford.

Good luck with the case mate, they sound like a bunch of bullsh!tters. Whats the point in offering 12 years anti corrosion warranty when its not covered????

My mum had a Focus with under 20k on the clock and one of the shocks went, it was under 3 years old and Ford said it wasn't covered.

I know we moan about Renault dealers sometimes but I've never once been refused a warranty claim on either of the 3 new Renaults I've had, nor on my mums old Clio or the missus 182.

Good luck mate, keep us posted.

Thanks Alex, been in contact with trading standards today and waiting on them, I know from others they have been contacted before over this issue, I do get the feeling though that Ford knows it can get away with it and dont give a s**t about their customers. Does anyone think it's worth pursuing through the small claims court ?