The Ford Puma has got to be one of the best cars ever manufactured. When we first saw the design and pictures, we followed with great interest and went to the first showing of the car in Leicestershire. We booked a test drive and that was it: we were both instantly taken in by the looks and handling, we just had to have one.

Our first new Puma had dents, poor paint work and scratches, and other minor defects. After spending its first week in the body shop, it never felt like a new car to us and we were very disappointed with the car and the attitude of the dealership (Sandicliffe of Leicester). But the next problem could have been curtains for Lorna, she had total brake failure at a set of traffic lights that were on red. The car did not stop. Luckily there were no vehicles in front of her, but when she eventually stopped further down the road the brakes were working fine. I took the car to Sanderson Ford in Leicester (a reputable and excellent dealership) as we were in dispute with Sandicliffe over the condition of the car at delivery. Sanderson Ford could not find any problems with the brake system and contacted Ford for technical advice. They were told to change the master cylinder. This was ordered to be fitted the next day, however, this plan was overtaken by events as Ford had quarantined all master cylinders in the UK. Another was ordered direct from Germany and we were told that it would take a week to arrive. We smelled a rat. We sent an e-mail to the Ford owners news group, (News Group E-Mail) which generated a reply from another Puma owner who had experienced the same problem. We started to find out about other Puma owners with this problem. We repeatedly contacted Ford asking for an explanation. They denied the problem and said it was impossible to have total brake failure. Even when we told them we knew of two other owners who had the same problem, they insisted it could not happen. They stuck to their story that they were not aware of anyone else complaining about the brakes. Needless to say, we were very concerned that someone could be killed so we started a campaign to force Ford to recall the Puma for brake defects. Our local newspaper, the Leicester Mercury (News Article) published an article and then BBC TV Watchdog (Watchdog Article) took an interest our story. Watchdog contacted Ford, they told Ford they were going to run our story on their Thursday night programme. Again, Ford said that they did know about our brake problem but insisted it was impossible to suffer total brake failure because of the dual circuit braking system. The day the programme was to go out on national TV, Puma owners started to receive a recall letter. This letter stated a problem had been found with the braking system that could reduce braking efficiency, we later found out that the original design of the master cylinder had been changed to make manufacturing easier and a Ford representative eventually admitted that they had known about the problem some 3 weeks before Lorna went careering through a red traffic light.

After six months of writing to both Ford and Sandicliffe, they finally realised that we would not accept anything less than a full refund and that we would not go quietly, they agreed to give us what we wanted.

With the money in the bank, we phoned around some Ford dealers and discovered Hancock Ford in Horsham were expecting delivery of three new Pumas within a couple of weeks. When they arrived we travelled down to Horsham to take a look. The cars were perfect. We arranged delivery for the following week and thought that our troubles were over. Not so. While the car was still in the dealer’s parking lot, someone (presumably one of their staff) dented the rear wing. They told us the day the car was due to be delivered, but the silver lining was that it could be fixed, although delivery would have to be delayed. They assured us that it did not need to be sprayed as the dent could be removed with dolly hammers and we wouldn’t even know there had been a problem. Reluctantly, we agreed, but only if it was perfect on delivery. A new delivery date was arranged (a Sunday). Needless to say, when the car arrived on the transporter, I scrutinised it for any defects. And guess what? I found two small dents in the rear passenger side panel, so we refused to accept the car. Off it went again on the transporter, back to Sussex. The dealership contacted us and said that the two dents were not related to the original dent. They had mysteriously appeared after the original repair, but it was a minor problem, which could easily be fixed. Lorna was working down south so she went in to see the car after the final repair and it was perfect (we could have refused to accept this one, but we could not find another available for at least two months anywhere in the UK). We collected it ourselves the following weekend, and all has been ok since then. Oh what a happy ending!!

I have since purchased a Puma for myself. I bought it from a local dealer who has been excellent (Fishers of Wigston, Leicester), I have had no problems to date. Lorna’s Puma is Melina Blue and I have a Pacific Green one.

March 2002: The Puma production line is no more and the chances of getting another one in the future is becoming slim, so before this brilliant car becomes extinct we decided to get a couple of new ones from Fishers of Wigston, Leicester in Panther Black.

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