Ask an expert

I purchased an imported 2015 Ford Focus from a private seller in March 2019, after getting an AA inspection. Within weeks, it developed the PowerShift issues that are prevalent with this age of car. I took it to a local Ford dealer and had to pay for the repair, as it was an import. I recently saw on Fair Go that a Mondeo had a similar issue, so contacted Ford NZ to understand why they cannot refund the cost of my repair and they reiterated that, as the car is an import, they are not liable. However, as this is a global issue, and Ford have extended the warranty on all Focus's due to this issue, why can I not get this repair refunded, as it is still a Ford?

I look forward to any help.

Hi there,
Imported vehicles are seldom part of any recall or assistance services as they technically may not be designed for or intended to be exported outside the domestic market where they were purchased. Some manufacturers do support imports or offer recalls if the issues are deemed global by the manufacturers overseas head office and they are providing the dealer with the parts and information to identify affected vehicles. The Consumer Guarantees Act won't apply in this case as the sale was private and the manufacturer did not supply this particular vehicle to the NZ market and so are not obliged to offer complimentary assistance.

Thank you Cade,

I appreciate your comments, and can confirm that this is a global issue that has been reported in the press. The only thing Ford haven't down is offer recalls, which is why class actions are taking place in Australia and the US. Also, Ford head office have stated that no Focus owner should have to pay for the repair. As an AA member, is there nothing AA can do to help?

Hi there,
If the CGA doesn't apply to your situation and the vehicle manufacturer won't offer assistance, then there is little that can be done sorry. We can't dictate to a vehicle manufacture how to conduct their business for a vehicle that they didn't supply to the NZ market. This can be the danger of imported vehicles and is not unique to one particular manufacturer.