Overall reliability

[Pablo96]

Hi all,

Considering buying a 2015-2016 Mondeo wagon diesel. What’s the overall reliability of these cars? What can I expect to be looking out for as far as common issues?

Thank you

[AlanM]

There's a YouTuber called Alan Howatt, who runs a fleet of Mondeos as taxis. They seem to be fairly solid.

In Australia, the TDCI will have a powershift DCT.
These are very nice if they're maintained properly, and very problematic if not. The transmission fluid and filter should be replaced at 60,000km intervals.

Unfortunately the fluid is quite expensive and IMO some service facilities charge for the oil but don't bother buying or changing it.
I recently bought an immaculate, very well maintained 2013 model with only 106,000km and a full service record. This is clearly a car that has not been neglected in any way.

Yet the transmission wasn't working properly, I basically had to operate the gears manually. When I drained it the fluid was absolutely filthy. It had clearly never been changed.

I pulled out the valve body, cleaned it up, tested the solenoids (all good) and replaced the fluid and filter, and the transmission is now excellent.

Unfortunately I think this has happened a lot, and has given even the wet clutch powershift something of a bad reputation. I've restored two now from operating very poorly to being very good, basically by cleaning them up and changing the fluid.

To make matters worse, Ford dealers quote astronomical figures for replacement transmissions, when they can often be fixed for the price of 1/2 day labour and $250 worth of oil and filter.

So if you have a service facility you can trust to actually do what they charge you for, it should be a very good, reliable car. If you don't, it could be a disappointment. I can only imagine what the previous owners of my car would have to say about it, but I doubt it would be good.

[AlanM]

They CAN be reliable!

https://www.grays.com/lot/0001-21003057