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Drive belt failed after 27,000 miles, who pays?
The auxiliary belt on my Ford Focus shredded whilst I was in the fast lane of the M60. My local Ford dealer diagnosed damage to all 16 valves and the head due to the cambelt being fouled with pieces of the disintegrating belt. The total bill for repair was £1770.
My issue is that the interval for changing the aux belt as stated by the dealer is 100,000 miles or 10 years. The service manager at the dealer stated that the belt is a wear and tear item and would not have been covered under the warranty.
As the car has only covered 27,000 over four years I think that the belt has not lasted a reasonable length of time. The car has been serviced by Ford dealers annually in accordance with the schedule, with no mention ever being made of any indication of wear to the belt. Do I have grounds to ask Ford to cough up in view of the belt or some other part of the engine not lasting a reasonable time?
My issue is that the interval for changing the aux belt as stated by the dealer is 100,000 miles or 10 years. The service manager at the dealer stated that the belt is a wear and tear item and would not have been covered under the warranty.
As the car has only covered 27,000 over four years I think that the belt has not lasted a reasonable length of time. The car has been serviced by Ford dealers annually in accordance with the schedule, with no mention ever being made of any indication of wear to the belt. Do I have grounds to ask Ford to cough up in view of the belt or some other part of the engine not lasting a reasonable time?
Asked on 23 June 2013 by Martlgn
Answered by
Honest John
You might have if the car has always been serviced by Ford garages and you can claim you were "mislead into believing it would last 100,000 miles."
Try Ford Customer Care via the dealer. No joy there, try www.moneyclaim.giv.uk , claiming for "consequential damage as the result of the failure of a component you were led to believe would last 100,000 miles."
Try Ford Customer Care via the dealer. No joy there, try www.moneyclaim.giv.uk , claiming for "consequential damage as the result of the failure of a component you were led to believe would last 100,000 miles."
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