We have a 60 reg S-MAX with the power shift box. We bought it second hand from a large non-Ford dealer. When the car was 3 1/2 years old but with only 21,000 miles on the clock, in November last year, the gearbox gave up. We spent £2900 on a gearbox service and a new gearbox sensor.

The fault then reappeared only 10 months later and the work was done again (which was done under the warranty of the repair). Now the fault is back again and Ford are saying it needs a new gearbox - £3500 plus. Ford say that as this is a different fault to the first repair and the car is outside warranty, we are on our own. (Obviously the first repair was the wrong repair!)

I can’t believe that Ford think that a car with only 21,000 miles on the clock, with Ford main dealer service history except for one pre-sales checkover by the large garage where we bought it, is acceptable.