12th Jun 2003, 20:26

Hi, the car in question was owned by my girlfriend, we sold it just after the review was written for £1850, over £4000 depreciation in 2 years is clearly unacceptable, we decided to get rid of the car after it started pulling violently under acceleration and braking, the top mounting for the right hand shock absorber had failed, and the electrical system was playing up, with lights all working intermittently.

The PAS pump was also starting to whine and was on the way out.

For a laugh, I drove the car to the dealer it was bought from, pretending that I had had just bought the car from a young woman and was looking to trade in against a new model, the dealer unknowingly described my girlfriend as "an idiot" and blamed her for the cars swift demise, instead of the total lack of dealer service and build quality.

He offered £2100 trade in against a new Ka.

The car was replaced by a 10 year old Fiesta which is better in every way.

20th Jul 2004, 04:44

I have had good service from a Ford Ka for just over 3 years. The dealers I have taken it to have been helpful and courteous. You've sold yours now, so best put it down to experience, but if a similar situation arises I would contact the Ford motor company with brief, but comprehensive details. The dealer in question clearly was not providing anything like the quality of service that Ford demands of its dealers.

25th Oct 2005, 16:33

I just got a shocking repair bill for £630 when was told that my wife's Y reg Ford KA with 17,700 miles on the clock needed a new steering rack. Ford Customer Care weren't willing to offer any partial payment given the low mileage. Looking elsewhere on the internet it looks like steering rack failure may be common with Ford KAs.

15th Mar 2006, 08:36

Well, well, well first MOT on my Ford Ka and guess what... the steering rack needs replacing. Strangely enough no hint of this at the previous service at the same Ford Dealers. I need a cheap runaround for my work, but in retrospect a Ford Ka was the wrong buy.

24th Mar 2006, 08:26

In reply to the 10 "things that have gone wrong"

Point 1) I think that's what's called a Friday afternoon car

Point 2) Din slot adaptor + Halfords bought stereo

Point 3) Yeah tell me about it!!! Common problem, fixed on 02 onwards I believe

Point 4) Again common problem, I heard Ford fitted too small a PAS reservoir, which they only replace if you ask.

Point 5) I bet that was due to a “Ford approved” fix for point 4)

Point 6) Can't say I've had that problem

Point 7) 35K miles!!! What were you doing, driving up Mount Everest at 5 mph in first???

Point 8) Yep, been there, done that, it’s called “the wheel wrench” and “half an hour”!!!

Point 9) That’s a faulty earth, that one is bloody annoying!

Point 10) Well considering you can see body metal inside the car, were you really expecting expense to be put in here?

17th Feb 2007, 14:54

Bought a 03 plate Ka Collection from one of the corner shop dealers with 27000 miles and 6 months MOT. The car looked clean and had two service stamps in the book.

Just for a laugh decided to put it through the main dealer major service.

1) Heavy leaking steering rack + pump noisy - recommend replace £1010

2) Top front shock absorber mounts heavily worn - £167.30

3) Recommend A/C service and deodoriser (?) £180

4) Reverse light switch leaking gearbox oil (!) £47

... If I add the cost of the proposed repairs to the purchase price of the car it would exceed the price new!

Word of advice - never ask main dealers to do the repairs - take the car to the local friendly guy who will not rip you off! Steering rack is a pain - was quoted £135+VAT to swap for a reconditioned one, this is exactly what I am going to do.

8th Mar 2007, 14:10

As a technician in the motor trade working for a successful independent garage I thought I’d put in a post.

Having worked on many Ka’s over the years and having owned myself I’d recommend the Ka as a fun little car, that’s cheap to maintain.

Costs of repairs from dealers are normally very high, the local dealer to me has a labour rate of over double ours, nearly £80+vat per hour. Combine that with the cost of new GENUINE parts compared to motor factors patent parts and the prices go crazy. Just for info the complete labour time to replace the PAS pump, complete rack, track rod ends, both pipes, reservoir and the belt is only 4 hours! The rack alone only takes an hour. To buy the rack from a motor factors costs about £80+vat, do the maths!

As for the suspension bushes these fail on almost all manufacturers, they seems to be wearing out quicker on the newer cars.

As a rule, combine a trusted independent and routine yearly servicing and enjoy cheap motoring!

PS - It's basically a fiesta mk3/4, cheap and cheerful! I'd still stick to VAG group. LOL.

29th Mar 2007, 10:26

My Y reg 2001 KA is currently in the garage having it's second steering rack fitted!!! The last one was fitted two years ago. It has 35000 miles on the clock and I do about 5000 a year (I bought it at a year old with 11000 on the clock. Two wishbones are also being done and I had to have a new clutch last year.

11th Apr 2007, 09:57

Well it's nice to see I'm not on my own. I've had a 2002 Ford KA since new. The problems have been as follows:Wishbone & knocking noise in 2005 at 23,000 miles, Had to replace Track rods and a broken coil spring at 31,000 at a cost of £221 in October 2006. In April 2007, at 44,000 miles, the KA developed a Power steering leak, which has been traced to the Steering rack! Cost of replacement has been quoted at £583 (Ford dealer) or £105 for a re con. plus 3-4 hours labour which should work out about £260. Not great for the mileage involved!

17th Apr 2007, 10:50

My mother has a sports Ford Ka which has only 20 000 miles on the clock. Now the dealer has told her that her clutch needs replacing due to her driving... (!)

The car has less that 20k miles and is only 2 and a half years old...

30th Apr 2007, 05:21

Hi, I have a 2001 Y reg KA, and since getting it 3 years ago, it has caused me nothing but trouble.

In the first year I needed a new catalytic converter. I was told by the garage it would have been caused by driving on bumpy roads!!! Then, in the first service, I needed the right front wishbone replacing.

Lo and behold, in the second year service it needed the left front wishbone replacing, and now in the third year's service, I have been told I need new rear axle bushes, but of course they said they wouldn't do them then and there, as it takes two hours of labour to fit them, so to leave it a few months.

Four months on, and I am trying to book it in, and have now been told the garages near me don't do that job, and the one I have finally spoken to said in all the years of doing KA's, they have never even been asked to.

So please, anyone who has had them done, could you please let me know, because I have no idea what damage this is doing to the car, but I can say I now have the damn clicking noise back, which the last time meant I got a new catalytic converter (but only once a red light came on... which before I took it in, they tried to tell me was a malfunctioning bulb!!!)