I have a C-Max 1.6 TDCI with a CVT Automatic Gearbox which I bought Brand New in May 04 from Dovercourt in Chelmsford and ever since I have had this Car and especially in the first 12 months the car was a danger to driver due to the loss of power when pulling out at roundabout, turning etc. The answer was always the same return it to the main dealer who tested the car but could never find any fault, eventually I managed to get the car to them leave it running and they then experienced the same problem as me. After several attempts and always adjusting the managemet system they managed to get it run as near normal as possible but never right. In the last 6 months it has been backwards and forwards to the same dealer as I have been losing power again, the gearbox has been snacking at the gears and I have been experiencing stalling whilst in gear which to say the least is most annoying, this has now transpired that last week I parked the car on my driver last Wednesday started the car up on Thursday and the car would not go backwards or fowards. The car was towed into Dovercourt who advised me later in the day that the Gearbox has broken up and will cost £4637 to be repaired. I was gob smacked as the car has only done 80000 miles.

What I am trying to find out how many other have experience the same problem as me and had any luck with Fords/Main Dealer in contributing to the cost?? Thanks

I have a C-Max 1.6 TDCI with a CVT Automatic Gearbox which I bought Brand New in May 04 from Dovercourt in Chelmsford and ever since I have had this Car and especially in the first 12 months the car was a danger to driver due to the loss of power when pulling out at roundabout, turning etc. The answer was always the same return it to the main dealer who tested the car but could never find any fault, eventually I managed to get the car to them leave it running and they then experienced the same problem as me. After several attempts and always adjusting the managemet system they managed to get it run as near normal as possible but never right. In the last 6 months it has been backwards and forwards to the same dealer as I have been losing power again, the gearbox has been snacking at the gears and I have been experiencing stalling whilst in gear which to say the least is most annoying, this has now transpired that last week I parked the car on my driver last Wednesday started the car up on Thursday and the car would not go backwards or fowards. The car was towed into Dovercourt who advised me later in the day that the Gearbox has broken up and will cost £4637 to be repaired. I was gob smacked as the car has only done 80000 miles.

What I am trying to find out how many other have experience the same problem as me and had any luck with Fords/Main Dealer in contributing to the cost?? Thanks

My mates got a mk6 fiesta - coming up for 3yr old, much the same experience within the first year - i think they eventually replaced it after 'software updates' didnt cure it. Was a known issue on that car, can't say if it's the same box as goes in your c-max

I've got a mk7 and first question to dealer was - is this the same gearbox as was in the mk6? He seemed clued up as to the question being raised - but so he should, he was the dealerships motability specialist :)

My sympathies. Having owned a C-Max CVT Auto and had the poor running problems you've had I've trawled all the motiring Forums and found a dozen or more examples of people with the same problems - none of which had found a solution. I sold my car after 15 failed attempts at a repair.

I also found lots of examples of gearbox failure - most of which are at far lower mileages than yours. All had had the same response from Ford -£4,500 plus for a new gearbox, no contribution.

Some people have had their gearbox repaired by an auto gearbox specialist for about £2k, but repeat problems seem common.

In my view Ford have taken the attitude that they won't give any support for this model - probably because there are so few cars out there.

My advice - do what I did. Get rid and never buy a Ford again- even if it costs you thousands .

My in-laws have an 05 place 1.6 TDCI CVT (done about 40K) which has now started to experience the same problems, took it to Ford last week who advised them to take it to a specialist. They've taken it to a repair specialist today who's said £2600 and that's with a reconditioned box. They're gutted as they bought the car for £6k ish last year. It looks like a lot of people are having the problem, but most people are eventually trading in because they can't permanently solve it.

Previous experience with a suspension problem on a Fiesta (which admittedly would have cost ford significantly less at about £500/car to fix) suggests that if enough of us complain it might get ford CRC to do something about it, but we had about 20 people with Fiesta's last time, and I don't know how many people are still suffering from the gearbox issue.

So how many of us are there, who's still got the car and still having problems?

My sympathies. Having owned a C-Max CVT Auto and had the poor running problems you've had I've trawled all the motiring Forums and found a dozen or more examples of people with the same problems - none of which had found a solution. I sold my car after 15 failed attempts at a repair.

I also found lots of examples of gearbox failure - most of which are at far lower mileages than yours. All had had the same response from Ford -£4,500 plus for a new gearbox, no contribution.

Some people have had their gearbox repaired by an auto gearbox specialist for about £2k, but repeat problems seem common.

In my view Ford have taken the attitude that they won't give any support for this model - probably because there are so few cars out there.

My advice - do what I did. Get rid and never buy a Ford again- even if it costs you thousands .