Faults:

Fuel Tank Seal missing on purchase.

Radio replaced 3 times.

Front bushes replaced twice in 2 years.

Steering Rack replaced after on year and PAS pump noisy.

Persistent leaks of power steering fluid.

"Ford Disco Effect" rear light clusters.

Clutch replaced at 35000 miles.

Spare Wheel, impossible to remove without considerable strength being needed.

Rear Wiper intermittent in operation.

Carpet comes away to reveal wiring.

General Comments:

After owning the car for only 2 hours, £20 of petrol leaked over a garage forecourt, due to a missing seal that had been overlooked, dealer refused to recover car and had to be driven in an unsafe condition.

Persistant rubbing noise from front of car explained to be worn brake pads by dealer, the noise was still there after they were changed and was subsequently found to be worn bushes in the front suspension, which the dealer refused to replace under warranty.

The radio failed 3 times in the first year, after the third time the dealer refused to replace it again, they also ordered the wrong radio, even though the car was at the dealership.

When the dealer had the car, they refused to provide a courtesy car, and refused to help me with transport to my place of work.

The PAS system started to lose fluid and would work intermittently, once again the dealer refused to stand over the vehicle and I was quoted £485+VAT for the steering rack alone, as the suspension bushed had worn out for the second time, as well, the total quote from the dealer was £983.

The clutch started slipping at 35000 miles and was replaced, the reversing light never worked after this.

The rear lights started to flash on and off and when braking the indicator would light up at both front and rear, the indicator would not function under braking.

The general level of finish was very poor in comparison to previous Ford vehicles I have owned, the carpet was poorly fitted and the plastic dashboard became grubby in a short space of time.

The spare wheel, for a car aimed at women drivers was very hard to remove and replace, replacement involved lying on the ground holding the wheel up with one hand, whilst another person tightened the retaining bolt.

Our local Ford dealer was unhelpful in the extreme, once the car was purchased, they lost all interest in it, and refused to honour warranty agreements and were generally a disappointment in comparison to dealers for other marques.

Faults:

Gear box went whilst driving so couldn't get anything other than 3rd.

ABS doesn't work.

General Comments:

My Ka is not yet 3 years old and already I have had to have my gear box replaced and now my ABS has gone.

The gear box was replaced before the car reached 7,000 miles.

Both problems have been described by mechanic's as known problems with Ford Ka's.