2023 Ford Galaxy: common problems and what to check
What gets flagged at MOT on 2023 Ford Galaxys, from 169 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.
Small sample: only 169 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.
What gets flagged at MOT
The share of 2023 Ford Galaxy MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.
- Tyres16% of testsRough price £70–£150
At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
- Lights and electrics15% of testsRough price £10–£80
At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Brakes4% of testsRough price £150–£350
At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
- Wipers, windscreen and mirrors3% of testsRough price £15–£250
At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
- Seats and seatbelts2% of testsRough price £80–£250
At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.
- Suspension1% of testsRough price £120–£400
At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Known faults
Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.
- Oil pump belt that runs in oil (2.0 EcoBlue diesel)2.0 EcoBlue diesel (most Ford 2.0 diesels from about 2018)
The 2.0 EcoBlue diesel drives its oil pump with a belt that runs in the engine oil. As it wears it can shed rubber and cut oil pressure, which can wreck the engine. Ford has shortened the change interval on the Transit to 6 years or 100,000 miles.
At the viewing: Ask when the oil pump belt was last changed, and watch for an oil-pressure warning light.
Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt
- May have a timing belt that runs in oil (1.5 EcoBoost)1.5 EcoBoost petrol
Ford used both wet timing belts and timing chains on its 1.5 EcoBoost petrol. A wet belt can break down if oil changes are late, starving the engine of oil. A Ford dealer can tell you from the VIN which this car has.
At the viewing: Ask whether it has a belt or a chain, and for a full service history with the right oil.
Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt
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Other years
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,229 | Tyres 26% |
| 2021 | 1,422 | Tyres 27% |
| 2020 | 1,673 | Tyres 27% |
| 2019 | 2,587 | Tyres 27% |
| 2018 | 3,498 | Tyres 29% |
| 2017 | 5,199 | Tyres 31% |
| 2016 | 4,685 | Tyres 33% |
| 2015 | 2,397 | Tyres 36% |
| 2014 | 4,129 | Lights and electrics 39% |
| 2013 | 3,709 | Suspension 45% |
| 2012 | 4,173 | Suspension 51% |
| 2011 | 4,042 | Suspension 52% |
| 2010 | 3,809 | Suspension 54% |
| 2009 | 3,320 | Suspension 56% |
| 2008 | 2,822 | Suspension 62% |
| 2007 | 2,570 | Suspension 65% |
| 2006 | 1,250 | Suspension 63% |
| 2005 | 982 | Suspension 64% |
| 2004 | 579 | Suspension 65% |
| 2003 | 474 | Suspension 57% |
| 2002 | 245 | Suspension 62% |
| 2001 | 137 | Suspension 58% |
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2023 Ford Galaxys registered in 2023. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score