Drivers of recalled 2016-2022 Ford EcoSport and Focus 1.0L vehicles have been met with problems while attempting to have their vehicles repaired, reports Atlanta News First.
An oil-drive belt tensioner arm prone to breaking was the cause of the recall, which could potentially lead to loss of motive power and power braking assist.
One owner of a 2019 Ford EcoSport in the Atlanta area experienced this with her vehicle as warning lights came on, and it slowed to a stop. She took it to a nearby dealership, but was told that replacement parts would not be available for at least six months.
They declined to give her a loaner car, so the EcoSport owner had to rely on friends, coworkers, and ride-share services for three months, which has cost her $2,000 on top of the monthly car payments she’s still making.
Only when Atlanta News First reached out to Ford Motor Company did the vehicle owner finally see action: they approved a replacement engine for the EcoSport, provided her a loaner car, and got her vehicle back to her within three weeks.
Ford has since updated the recall notice on its website, saying that dealers may replace an engine in recalled vehicles as an interim repair in the absence of necessary parts.
The Atlanta driver is far from the only one who’s been through such an incident–a highly similar scenario happened with a North Carolina woman earlier this year, in addition to a class action lawsuit filed last year accusing Ford of waiting until consumers fall outside warranty to put the burden of the cost on them.
