Are Fords really as bad as people are saying ?

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Brian Thompson

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Looking to change our MH. We currently have an Autotrail Apache 700 with the Comfortmatic Gearbox. Looking to get a full Automatic . Are Fords really that bad ?
 
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A lot of the wet belt problems with the Ford transit were due to the recommended 10 years or 150k miles between belt changes. They also had 30,000 mile service intervals! This meant that the belt was running in highly contaminated oil which significantly shortened its lifespan. Also, it is critical to use the correct oil which some independent garages were not doing. Ford have reduced the service intervals and now recommend that the belt is changed at 6 years or 100k miles. They also had injector problems but I think this has been mostly resolved. I would be happy to own one but I would have the oil changed every year and change the timing belt at 5 years. A new timing belt will be expensive. Currently about £1600 at a Ford dealership.
 
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Compared to the Ducato, they are nicer to drive. The engines are easily capable enough. The chassis is a bit less agricultural. There was an issue with injectors (is that now mostly resolved?). And they have wet timing belts, so long term servicing is more expensive, but I don't think it's a deal breaker.

If I'd found a van that had the right layout at the right price, and it was on the Ford chassis, it'd buy it.

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I also suspect another aspect of the issue with Ford Transit MoHos and their wet belt woes is that many are sat for weeks or months....then driven...then parked again for weeks or months. It is staggering how many seem to do less than 2k miles a year. This cannot help. (We have a 22 Transit, it is a very nice drive)
 
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I enjoy driving our automatic Ford much more than the Boxers we had before. Having the 170 bhp engine really helps as well.

Need to get the door card replaced as Ford put the wrong one on and it means you have to open door to swivel seat - found this explanation on Faceache.

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Brian Thompson said:
Looking to change our MH. We currently have an Autotrail Apache 700 with the Comfortmatic Gearbox. Looking to get a full Automatic . Are Fords really that bad ?
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Its the Wet Belt system they used. Cambelt can disintegrate with the wrong oil in the engine. Also apparently its expensive to change the Cambelt compared to other manufacturers. I believe these have been modified now in the 2025 onward models...
 
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ontheroadagain said:
I see you have a Chausson S697.
Are you happy with it?
Looks like a great van.
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Yes. Our first van/moho. The interior set up that suits us, a one yr old van only being sold as the 81 yr old owner was retiring from driving so he was offered miserly values at dealers (here in France). He got a bit more from us than they'd offered, we got it for a good bit less than the price that the dealers would have sold it for...everyone happy.
We've since looked at a few 'more luxurious' vans the same size...sub 7m and slimline. We'd have to pay a small fortune to 'upgrade' and what we'd get is a bit better seta material, floor covering (or in one case but for an extra €40k to ours...a VW/Man chassis)
So far so good. We are happy with it.
 
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This is a question I was going to post too, since I was looking at models with the Ford chassis but was being put off due to :
1) The wet belt issue
2) The Injector issue

It would be good to hear from more Ford MoHo drivers with their real world experience rather than just the nay sayers who don't actually own/drive one. It's easy to get overwhelmed with horror stories from a vocal but tiny minority, so I'm trying to figure out if the issue is every one, 1 in 10, 1 in 50, 1 in 100 or 1 in 1000 MoHo's that have these problems and how they've been used (regular vs sat un-used then used for a short trip then sat unused again).

Would more Ford owners that have had neither of these issues please speak up!

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DandJ said:
I also suspect another aspect of the issue with Ford Transit MoHos and their wet belt woes is that many are sat for weeks or months....then driven...then parked again for weeks or months. It is staggering how many seem to do less than 2k miles a year. This cannot help. (We have a 22 Transit, it is a very nice drive)
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Local Ford mechanic said a big problem is driving short distances only and/or idling a lot. Think last leg delivery vans etc. That will result in dpf issues which in turn result diesel diluting the oil and finally belt problems. An hour on the road at cruising speeds every 500km ensuring a proper dpf burn & regular oil changes was his recipe to avoid belt trouble. Also, always pre-heat if it's freezing.
 
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Had our Ford since 2019. Find it a far nicer drive and more comfortable than other makes eg Fiat. It’s 170hp so more than enough power for overtaking, hills etc. It’s a manual and you do need to use the gearbox when it comes to hills but it copes easily. Serviced every 12 months with correct oil and filter.
Averages 30-32mpg weighed at 3800kgs. No issues since we bought it.

The Transit is still the most popular make of van sold in UK by a large margin.

There have been a number of vehicles affected by injector problems, some with multiple failures. Why, I dont know. The initial ‘problem’ was issued by Ford as due to injector tip corrosion affecting vehicles built by a certain date using a known batch of injectors. My reckoning is that those affected should have stopped but there are a number of users have had injectors replaced only for further injector problems arising again. What the ratio of vehicles with problems to those that don’t I don’t know but you are more likely to hear of the ones having problems.

Next on the list is the ‘wet’ timing belt which runs in engine oil. Originally to be replaced at ten years/150000 miles Ford have now recommended replacement at 6 years. Issue seems to arise from timing belt sitting in oil, potentially contaminated by either the wrong type of engine oil used or oil that is contaminated by diesel due to short journeys/failed regeneration attempts etc. Replacements is not cheap and seems to come in at £1200 to £1500ish depending on what is replaced etc. We didn’t expect that bill for another four years.

Overall I’m happy with the Ford we have. It’s serviced regularly with correct fluid/parts and I’ll get belt changed at six year point to be on the safe side as it’s cheaper than a replacement engine!

Would I get another Ford……based on my experience yes…….
 
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for me if its stick change if its a fiat.and if its auto its a merc.and as for that ford wet belt i went into the work shop while one was being done to have a look(and i ended up helping) in my opinion its looks like some strange antiquated stuff that renault would do...everything is getting more complex and moor exspensive is any better? .give me that old 2.8 diesel fiat engine for me that was the best motor.hey ho thats just me
 
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My main worry would be security issues.
Have read not on FB that some insurers are refusing to insure ford based motorhomes, may be an urban myth. They fords i have driven have all been great, didn't like the 'sticky out' indicators on older vans.

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Based on my experience of driving a 20 plate Ford Transit Custom van 2 days a week at work for the past 3 years, I wouldn't go anywhere near one. Bloody awful things.
 
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gus-lopez said:
Someone recently posted a you tube video of a complete wet belt change from an independent that does them constantly with price & list of parts that are changed .I can't remember the price though but thought it was excellent considering the amount of parts needed +work.

here post #18
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/wet-belt-change-interval.307484/
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I think that was me Gus
Yes a very detailed video showing the full extent of the work that needed done to change wet cam belt on transits.
The price he said was competitive, which I guess would be if doing them often.
£1,100 was the take it or leave it price quoted, I guess Ford Dealers would be much more somehow.
It sure looks like a lot of work, with specialist alignment tools needed, certainly well beyond my DIY skills.
LES
 
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Go old enough and no problem mine has a chain.
The security bit is a bit of a myth though believed by some insurers. Fiat's are easy to break into and mercs are apparently the most stolen. Any motorhome is easy to break into regardless of base because of the plastic windows.
 
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TinaLes said:
I think that was me Gus
Yes a very detailed video showing the full extent of the work that needed done to change wet cam belt on transits.
The price he said was competitive, which I guess would be if doing them often.
£11,000 was the take it or leave it price quoted, I guess Ford Dealers would be much more somehow.
LES
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£11,000?
 
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Stoosal said:
Had our Ford since 2019. Find it a far nicer drive and more comfortable than other makes eg Fiat. It’s 170hp so more than enough power for overtaking, hills etc. It’s a manual and you do need to use the gearbox when it comes to hills but it copes easily. Serviced every 12 months with correct oil and filter.
Averages 30-32mpg weighed at 3800kgs. No issues since we bought it.

The Transit is still the most popular make of van sold in UK by a large margin.

There have been a number of vehicles affected by injector problems, some with multiple failures. Why, I dont know. The initial ‘problem’ was issued by Ford as due to injector tip corrosion affecting vehicles built by a certain date using a known batch of injectors. My reckoning is that those affected should have stopped but there are a number of users have had injectors replaced only for further injector problems arising again. What the ratio of vehicles with problems to those that don’t I don’t know but you are more likely to hear of the ones having problems.

Next on the list is the ‘wet’ timing belt which runs in engine oil. Originally to be replaced at ten years/150000 miles Ford have now recommended replacement at 6 years. Issue seems to arise from timing belt sitting in oil, potentially contaminated by either the wrong type of engine oil used or oil that is contaminated by diesel due to short journeys/failed regeneration attempts etc. Replacements is not cheap and seems to come in at £1200 to £1500ish depending on what is replaced etc. We didn’t expect that bill for another four years.

Overall I’m happy with the Ford we have. It’s serviced regularly with correct fluid/parts and I’ll get belt changed at six year point to be on the safe side as it’s cheaper than a replacement engine!

Would I get another Ford……based on my experience yes…….
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its the most popular as its mainly big companies that buy them in fleets as they like the price and the service deals they only keep them 3 years or so; a new transit is cheaper than a merc toyota ect....if merc ect were doing cheaper fleet deals ...now be intresting to see how these prices fleet deals pan out now the vw transporter is a transit
 
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