Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine failures: company pledges to pay for all repairs

Ford has agreed to fund 100 per cent of the repair costs for thousands of customers affected by overheating 1.0-litre EcoBoost engines.

The issue relates to 44,682 Fords with faulty coolant hoses, which can lead to the turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine overheating. Some cases have left customers with five-figure bills for new engines – though in many instances these were at least part-funded by Ford.

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Ford has now said it recognises it “needs to go further to ensure reasonable repair costs are covered”, and will institute a policy of making “a 100% contribution to the repair cost” for engine faults “linked to potential 1.0-litre engine overheating”. The company will also apply this policy retrospectively, so customers who may have paid for repairs previously are in line to receive refunds.

Back in March 2015, Ford announced a Field Service Action (FSA) to degas hoses in 1.0-litre EcoBoost engines. The faulty hoses were fitted to 44,682 cars such as the Fiesta and Focus, built between October 2011 and October 2013. Ford says 96 per cent of problematic engines have had remedial work carried out.

A statement released by the company said: "UK owners should contact Ford by emailing mgrcrc@ford.com with [their] vehicle registration number. It will take time to re-examine previous cases thoroughly, but we will respond to all correspondence.”

Ford also highlighted a separate recall related to examples of its 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine fitted to the Kuga, Focus, C-MAX and Fiesta ST. This affects 15,200 cars, and can see localised overheating potentially causing the cylinder head to crack, which can result in a pressurised oil leak and engine fire “in extreme circumstances”.