Are Fords really as bad as people are saying ?

[Brian Thompson]

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 ?

 

[TinaLes]

£11,000?

Sorry edited to 1,100.00, hope that was inc Vat.
LES

 

[Gaston aires]

What security fears do you have?

I think it’s about theft. It appears that a high percentage of motorhome thefts are on a Ford chassis.
Phil

 

[garry55]

In what way?

Every (IMHO)

 

[rod_vw]

Ford have just replaced the 6 speed auto with a new 8 speed. If you are looking at dealers stock it is likely to be the older 6 speed as the 8 speed autos are just starting to arrive.

I wonder if the new 8 speed auto has any connection with Ford's connection with VW for the new VW Transporter as my MAN TGE (VW Crafter in disguise) also has an 8 speed auto.
Does the new Transit also have an electric hand brake like the 2025 Crafter (TGE)?

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[St3v3]

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.

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…….

There is a lot of misunderstanding around the ecoblue screw up. Mostly created by Ford to avoid payouts....

The first symptoms were the oil quality monitor suggesting the oil needs changing after low miles. Ford blamed driving style. Then injector issues presented as misfiring that they asked people out of warranty to pay for. Then the connection was made that the injectors were throwing in too much fuel so they did a recall to update the software to put in less fuel. And charged for an oil change because it had been ruined by over fuelling. Then when there were still problems the injector that failed first was changed, but not all of them. Rinse and repeat for a while with massive delays getting parts and people being charged for oil because it had been ruined by the injectors.

Then, cam belts started failing on the vans that had been running higher miles with the excess diesel in the oil because the diesel was destroying the cam belt. Ford blamed bla bla and did some "good will" gestures depending on how loud you shouted, towards some of the destroyed engines and then eventually did a recall to change the cam belt.

The whole thing stinks.

The other recall we had was "we need to change the fuse because the wiring melts if the electric coolant pump that runs on after you turn the engine off, fails."

So we'll just ignore the fact that loads of these pumps have failed shall we?

 

[jerryz]

I would not go near any Ford with a stupid wet belt engine .... i have talked with many owners with wet belt engines , Transits, and cars and the failures are numerous and expensive ,, Did you know that some Pueugeot /Citroens engines are also wet belt designs ......

 

[Mart 63]

I sold my Ford Benimar Tessoro around 4 months ago, it was a great van to drive. Only had it for a year and had no problems at all, it was a 2021. My neighbour on the other hand, bought the same model on a 19 plate around the same time. He had injector problems twice, the garage only changed one on the first failure. The second failure he had them all changed, also the wet belt changed. He showed me a video of how they were failing, water was pouring in the engine through the bottom windscreen seal onto the injectors.
I had a 2013 transit custom for work from new, did 150000 miles in it, only problem I had with it was the dpf valve.

 

[ontheroadagain]

Did you know that some Pueugeot /Citroens engines are also wet belt designs ......

Honda also have one in their 1.0L turbo engine used in the Civic.

 

[DandJ]

I sold my Ford Benimar Tessoro around 4 months ago, it was a great van to drive. Only had it for a year and had no problems at all, it was a 2021. My neighbour on the other hand, bought the same model on a 19 plate around the same time. He had injector problems twice, the garage only changed one on the first failure. The second failure he had them all changed, also the wet belt changed. He showed me a video of how they were failing, water was pouring in the engine through the bottom windscreen seal onto the injectors.
I had a 2013 transit custom for work from new, did 150000 miles in it, only problem I had with it was the dpf valve.

I understood that to be a seperate issue to the injector failure issue? I understood that to create a problem of actually removing the injector from the engine due to external corrosion...caused by the water ingress into the engine compartment but not in to the engine.

Brian....I figured the thread would go this way.....people with vehicle issues are generally far more vociferous than those without.

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[ontheroadagain]

Does the new Transit also have an electric hand brake like the 2025 Crafter (TGE)?

Not all Transits have an electric hand brake.

 

[ontheroadagain]

The main problem is that for the majority of us our choice of base vehicle is Ford or Fiat. If I was buying a new car both would be at the very bottom of my list. Our current Fiat has had quite a few problems. None of them were serious enough to leave us stranded but have resulted in numerous trips to the garage. I would therefore be willing to take a chance with a Ford.

 

[PP Bear]

I hired a brand new Transit Luton van with electric tail lift and loved quite a lot about it, the flexibility of the engine, smooth gear changes, how much torque it produced and the general design of the dash, plus dash storage. It cruised effortlessly at 70 up and down the A1, both loaded and empty.

The one thing that would mostly stop me from buying one (unless they are radically different on the cab used to build motorhomes with) is the terrible design for space at the feet for the driver. I covered over 2000 miles in 5 days moving house from Kent to Yorkshire and hated the aches in my feet and knees, there was just no room at all. It didn’t help by no cruise control, but even then, I’d have not been able to relieve the pain I was suffering from it, as the space is so small and restricted.

Go hire a Transit Luton body (far cheaper than hiring a Ford motorhome to test drive) then drive it for miles and days and see how much you like it yourself and then make a decision. For me it would be either a Fiat or Merc, as I wouldn’t want to arrive anywhere feeling like a blooming cripple from the journey, honestly I looked like an idiot getting out at the services and struggled with the pain while I freed up my knees, ankles and feet.

 

[Mart 63]

I understood that to be a seperate issue to the injector failure issue? I understood that to create a problem of actually removing the injector from the engine due to external corrosion...caused by the water ingress into the engine compartment but not in to the engine.

Brian....I figured the thread would go this way.....people with vehicle issues are generally far more vociferous than those without.

As I said, water on the engine, causing corrosion on the injectors. He had the wet belt changed, as it worked out cheaper while they were changing injectors.

 

[Mart 63]

If I ever bought another second hand ford custom motorhome. I would be pouring a few buckets of water on the windscreen, to see how the bottom windscreen seal was holding out.

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[PP Bear]

Not all Transits have an electric hand brake.

The one I hired had a “normal” manual hand brake.

 

[DandJ]

As I said, water on the engine, causing corrosion on the injectors. He had the wet belt changed, as it worked out cheaper while they were changing injectors.

I get you now (your post actually mentions water in the engine, if you have a look ^)

 

[mikash]

The main problem is that for the majority of us our choice of base vehicle is Ford or Fiat.

Yep those are the probable choices I'm looking at myself too, but current generation of Ford has the wet belt scare and current generation of Fiat has problems with preheaters so I dunno which is worse, both can get costly . For other qualities I like the Ford a lot better to drive and the height for living quarters is nice, but Fiat is generally considered better in terms of corrosion resistance and a little cheaper maintenance.

 

[Mart 63]

I get you now (your post actually mentions water in the engine, if you have a look ^)

Should have said engine bay

 

[garry55]

My summary of Ford Transit Custom van driving (as mentioned previously, not my own van, but one that I drive at work) versus my limited experience (12000 miles) of driving my 2007 Peugeot Boxer 2.2 derived motorhome.
It's a 20 plate with 77800 miles on the odo, serviced at recommended mileage by a trusted independent garage.

Good points:- the handbrake is very good. The Peugeot one is equally as good, but only on the flat.
Build quality:- it's held up well, much better than I expected. Nothing rattles, squeaks or falls off. No visible signs of rust on the bodywork.
Reliability:- the only things to fail are the brake servo vacuum pump (twice) - what happened to the pipe from the inlet manifold? Too simple? It's left me stranded once and same for the other driver. At least it doesn't wreck the engine, like VW Crafters do.
The on-board electrics display - warnings regularly flit between worn brake pads, hill start assist not available (not fitted), ad-blu (for around 2 weeks after it has been replenished) and door open warning, when all doors are closed. But I still have to get out and check passenger, sliding and rear doors are actually closed for my piece of mind.

Bad points:- engine (don't know capacity but it's a diesel) lacks any meaningful torque.
Gear box:- ratios all wrong - 1st is too high, 5th and 6th too low.
Gear selection:- feels like Ford tried to fit a 6-speed box into a 4-speed gate. I still miss gears (only changing down, to be fair) on a weekly basis. You could put it down to my age (69) but I never miss a gear in the Peugeot.
Infotainment console:- worse than my new Toyota CHR, and that's bad.
Steering:- when it decides to add power to it (sometimes a minute or two delay), it is very vague. I don't expect MX5 levels of feel, but some would be nice.
Traction control:- the first thing we all turn off at the sign of bad weather. It's atrocious.
But if I was given the choice of keys for the Transit or the VW, I would take the Ford key.

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[tonyidle]

Reliability:- the only things to fail are the brake servo vacuum pump (twice) - what happened to the pipe from the inlet manifold? Too simple?

No throttle on many Diesel engines.

 

[garry55]

No throttle on many Diesel engines.

yup - pardon my ignorance

 

[scotzsue]

What security fears do you have?

Well every ford i have had have been easily got into without keys. Handy if forgetful bit not if you are likely to lose your pride and joy.

 

[Bognor Saint]

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.

No issues insuring our 21 plate Ford.
It's a much better driving experience than our previous Fiats. Also a much nicer cab.