Ford in court for PowerShift class action

Disaffected Ford customers who own Fiesta, Focus and EcoSport models fitted with the Getrag PowerShift dual-clutch transmission are having their complaints heard for the first time in court today.

The case is an echo of the DSG issues that have dogged Volkswagen in recent times.

The first hearing is already taking place at the Philip Street Court Complex in Sydney, and one of the plaintiffs will testify on what legal counsel describes as "sexist" and "trade-up" issues.

"Ford customers are disappointed at the way they are being treated when they report the problems with their transmissions and gear boxes to their dealers," says Diane Chapman of Bannister Law.

"Overwhelmingly, they are being told they are not driving their vehicles properly, that it is their fault and they are being made to feel stupid."

Among the Ford customers seeking damages against the company is Leanne Glasser, who purchased a PowerShift-equipped Fiesta like the one pictured for her daughter several years ago. According to Ms Glasser, the car has been defective from the day of delivery, and five years of remonstrating with Ford has done nothing to redress the problems with the car.

"Rather than accept and address the fault, we were told by Ford that 'the way my daughter drove the car' was to blame," she was quoted as saying.

"In the end, my daughter was scared to drive the car. She had a number of near misses and the transmission failure was the catalyst for an equally frightening road rage incident from a driver who lost it after almost rear ending her vehicle, which suddenly decelerated when the gear just disengaged.

"My husband and I chose the car for its safety features as my daughter was only 17. We specifically purchased an automatic car for its ease of driving. At no point were we ever told about any PowerShift transmission. This was never mentioned. The only time we heard the expression was after we were having all these problems with the car. It's a very dangerous car to drive," she said.

For its part, Ford will not comment in any sort of detail concerning the court action and any implications arising.

"We've received the lawsuit information – and beyond that we simply just don't comment on litigation," Ford Australia president Graeme Whickman told journalists two weeks ago.

"That's the stock response... we'll do what we need to do, relative to the laws of the land and have that dialogue in a private, confidential matter."