Cape Town - In December 2016, Wheels24 reported on a video showing a Ford Kuga SUV up in flames in Durban.



The owner, Nivesh Sewpersadh, was driving in Westville North near Durban when his vehicle caught alight. Sewpersadh said he had taken his SUV to a dealership twice after the engine warning light appeared.

He escaped from the vehicle without any harm before emergency services arrived. Since then, more Kuga owners have expressed their concerns and unhappiness after experiencing the same issues.

Sudden overheating

Wheels24 readers, Mr & Mrs Samuel and Pat Keegan, experienced similar problems with their Kugas:

The Samuels emailed Wheels24 the following:

"We too own a Ford Kuga 1.6 Ecosport Titanium model, which was purchased from Barloworld in Pietermaritzburg in 2014.



"Earlier in 2016 the vehicle suddenly and without warning overheated. Fortunately, we were able to stop and switch it off immediately - albeit in the middle of rush-hour traffic.

READ: Ford SA responds to Kuga fire incident in Durban

"A number of visits were made to the dealer who eventually advised that there was possibly a factory problem with the water coolant bottle, which they then replaced under warranty.

"A few months later the vehicle engine light come on. It took a few trips to the dealer to investigate before they advised that the issue was "possibly" related to the replacement of the water bottle and it also seemed that coolant has been leaking out which, once again, they 'apparently' fixed.

"Upon reading about the Kuga's catching fire in social media, we immediately contacted the dealer and only then did they advise that they are conducting the safety checks for Ford SA on Kuga's and that we should bring in the vehicle.

"Considering that the water coolant bottle had already been replaced and that the coolant leak had apparently been fixed, imagine our shock to receive a call from the dealer advising that they found that our vehicle still had the same cooling system defect; possibly linked to the overheating issue, which may have resulted in the other Kuga's catching fire.

READ: Ford SA on Kuga fires: 'may be a result of engine overheating'

"This means that all along we had been driving an unsafe vehicle with our kids in it! Upon querying how this was not picked up during the previous repairs and also the previous services, no answers were given. When advised the dealer of our unhappiness and concern for our safety with this vehicle and the only option given by them was for us to trade in the vehicle if we no long wanted it.

"Not only are we concerned for our safety, but we will also likely not be able to resell this particular model in the future as these models are now associated with the fire issue. Asides from engaging with the dealer we have also sent an email to Ford SA who advised that a customer relationship representative would contact us, no one has yet contacted us."

Petition drawn up

In response to the latest spat of Kugas catching fire, a petition has been drawn up in an attempt to get answers from Ford South Africa.

Click on the image below: