Used car guide · 2004–2026

Ford Tourneo common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Ford Tourneo, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 41,995 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

41,995MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
43,322on the UK register
2known faults across all years
2013best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132004

What usually goes wrong with a Ford Tourneo?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (1.0 EcoBoost)

    Cars registered 2013–2025 · 1.0 petrol (EcoBoost and non-turbo)

    Ford’s 1.0 three-cylinder petrol uses a timing belt that runs in the engine oil on most cars. If oil changes are late or the wrong oil is used, the belt breaks down and sheds rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some later cars have a timing chain instead: a Ford dealer can tell you from the VIN. Ford’s change interval is 10 years or 150,000 miles, and the belt isn’t covered by warranty.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history with the right oil, and when the belt was changed. An oil-pressure warning light, a rattle or a rough idle are warning signs.

    Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt

  • Oil pump belt that runs in oil (2.0 EcoBlue diesel)

    Cars registered 2018–2025 · 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

Common Ford Tourneo MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 17.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 7.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 4.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Anti-roll bar link bushes

    up to 53× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £100–£280 (pair of drop links) Checkatrade

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

  • Brake lights

    up to 5.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Diesel smoke emissions

    up to 14.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2014 and 2015.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

Ford Tourneo MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2013 Ford Tourneo did best (66% passed first time, 1 point below all 2013 cars) and the 2017 did worst (72%, 8 points below all 2017 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202291%89% +2259 (small sample)
202085%87% -2710
201981%85% -46,985
201877%83% -67,662
201772%80% -88,725
201670%77% -74,528
201567%74% -76,913
201467%70% -34,613
201366%67% -11,472
200454%57% -3128 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Ford Tourneo

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Has the timing belt been changed, and is there a full service history with the right oil?
  2. Has the oil pump belt been changed, and is there a full service history?
  3. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 17.5× as often on the Ford Tourneo as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 7.8× as often on the Ford Tourneo as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.4× as often on the Ford Tourneo as on other cars the same age.)
  6. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ford Tourneo?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score