Ford Falcon 2010 Problems

Go back to the dealer and have it checked, and don't believe him if he tells you it's because the transmission hasn't adapted to your driving style!

Hard shifting has been on ongoing issue with the ZF auto, and like you say, other owners have had the Ford fix of a recal of the computer without any lasting success.

If you are sure it’s coming from the front of the car replacing the diff mounts at the rear would have no effect. I would be checking the front suspension bushes and the shocks.

I have observed a similar vibration in Falcon utes I have driven, and it felt to me like a driveline vibration. It was observed at different speeds, depending on the gear you were in at the time. My reading of it was that while it was annoying it probably inherent in the vehicle and not something that could be easily fixed. I’m not surprised Ford put it in the “too-hard” basket.

We haven't had much feedback as yet, but by chance we've now had two in the last week or so, yours and the one from Garry Haynes that is also published this week. That suggests there could be a problem and we will follow it up with Ford.

I would also like to have a new transmission, but I wouldn’t necessarily write off a rebuilt one, providing it is rebuilt correctly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Before settling for the rebuild ask for a report on the failure of the transmission and ask the dealer to justify why he thinks it will be ok when rebuilt. If you really want a new transmission, and I agree that it’s not too much to ask, you need to be persistent and keep the pressure up on Ford. Go all the way to the top if you feel strongly about it.

Adding a third seat to wagons was once quite common, and carmakers have even offered a third seat option in the past. But with the availability of so many seven-seater SUVs and people-movers now, it's not so popular. The demands for compliance to Australian design rules have also made it more difficult. I would suggest you look at people-movers such as the Honda Odyssey and the compact VW Caddy Life, which is a Golf-sized vehicle able to seat seven.

RUNNING a different fuel -- or even a cleaner through the engine regularly -- might well be a way of preventing the carbon build-up that leads to the problem with the plugs in the Ford V8. The problem is most people only realise there is a problem when the plugs break while being removed.