Phillip L

oil change every 1000 miles!!!!

MY NEW FORD VEHICLE REQUIRES AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 1000 MILES. In August 2018 I purchased a brand new Transit Courier Sport van from Gates of Stevenage and from the time I drove it out of the showroom to this day, I have incurred endless issues. It started with the sat nav which did not appear to be working and it took Gates six weeks to find and repair the fault. I then got to 1000 miles on the dashboard and the warning light cane on confirming an engine service and oil change was needed.straightaway. Surprised. I took the van back to Gates to be fixed again. The van stayed at Gates for a further three weeks which meant in the space of three months. I was for a second time without the vehicle I had paid for in good faith.I was prepared to accept the inconvenience as long as it got repaired so I persevered. To my disbelief, at 2000 miles the same warning light came on advising me that another engine service and oil change was required. Back it went for a further three weeks and again I was inconvenienced and without the van I had bought.. To my horror at 3000 miles I received the same warning light and the same issues. At that point I realised there was an obvious fundamental fault with the mechanics of my van and so I asked Gates to take the van back and return my money in full. I could not waste any more time or energy on this especially knowing that by that point the van has spent more time with Gates’ service department then with me.   To my disgust, Gates were not interested in any type of customer service or customer retention and had no intentions of refunding any monies. Following each engine change and service they advised and insisted my van was performing to “manufacturers specifications”. Having then contacted Ford UK I immediately learned there was no specification written anywhere advising the consumer that this particular make and model of transit courier would require a service and oil change every 1000 miles. Had I been made aware of this I would have known this type of van would not be appropriate for me or my business. Eventually Gates offered to refund my van at its purchase price minus the mileage to date. I was not prepared to accept this because it was significantly lower than what I had paid to own the van and the time, effort and inconvenience was not reflected in the refund in any way at all. My last resort was to appeal to Ford UK to offer me a satisfactory resolution however they offered no support or customer service and batted me back to Gates. I now have no option but to instruct a solicitor to assist with my situation. No vehicle should ever require an oil change and engine service at every 1000 miles. Would you not agree?