2002 Ford Mondeo Zetec TDCi from UK and Ireland - Comments

Injectors

Rear doors leaking

Passenger side window broken

Front suspension replaced

Alarm never works

Set of tyres in 6k

New flywheel

New Clutch

Front brakes

Air com furred up.

All I can say is I am sorry I set eyes on this car. My Accord was written off whilst parked so I was desperate for a car. A trader friend of mine recommended the Mondeo as a brilliant car. I was slightly apprehensive through previous ownership of a Granada and Sierra, both were money pits. I took the plunge and went for a 2002 TDCi.

Really things just went from bad to worst. The car was unreliable from the start and I hated driving it. I always had that feeling, 'will it get me there?', 'what was that noise', 'quick avoid any bumps of the suspension will fall apart again'.

I had to park it in a certain direction on the driveway because the back doors leaked and flooded the compartment. The diesel engine was rubbish, kept stinking of fuel due to it popping injectors. Fuel economy was woeful, but probably down to faults. My family wouldn't ride in it as the smell of diesel coupled with a furred up air con made them feel sick. I had to ride round with the windows open to try and dry it out. It spent a month in the workshop having the flywheel rebuilt and injectors replaced.

It was a victim of a break in one night when the alarm decided to fail, unfortunately even the crooks wouldn't take it. It also depreciated like a stone so I had done my entire purchase price in repairs and loss of value in 12 months.

Couldn't bring myself to sell it on privately so I took the plunge and whacked it through an auction. Lost a fortune, but I have now purchased a beautiful Primera in exchange. Totally happy with this car some 3 months on.

Sounds like you picked up an ex-taxi or it had been the subject of an insurance write-off. Never deal in a rush.

Sorry to hear about your problems, but one word for your car - lemon. I've had Mondeo's a lot older and with higher mileage and have never had to replace a clutch, etc. Also tyres at 6k??? I think your car also had suspension problems...again, problems it shouldn't have had at that age and mileage.

(QUOTE)

Sounds like you picked up an ex-taxi or it had been the subject of an insurance write-off. Never deal in a rush. (/Quote)

Not an ex-taxi it was a one owner low mileage vehicle. It was almost certainly a lemon, but reading the other reviews I am certainly not alone.

Doesn't matter as I have a brilliant Primera that knocks socks off the Mondeo in equipment, comfort, quality and reliability.

Bizarre. I have the same car, year, engine etc and mine has done 120,000 miles. It has had one injector and the rear subframe bushes replaced at 55,000 miles under warranty. Other than that it's been utterly reliable. It's never let me down or given me any reason to doubt it.

What's more, even at 120,000 miles it still drives brilliantly. The Primera can't get close to it dynamically.

Sorry you bought a lemon, but this is not typical. Mondeos are usually brilliant cars.

Bought a used, 1 owner 130TDCi a couple of weeks ago. I've had some fun (not) with the electrics, mainly trying to get the tail lights to work. £94 later they do. But the instrument lighting is still off. Motto: look under the back bumper for a hidden towbar, which might have been removed prior to sale. That was the cause of my problems. I'll get the rest sorted out in due course - probably sort them myself, like the lighter didn't work, some oik had removed the fuse!!!

Fortunately the engine works just fine. This is one seriously powerful donk.. Fastest I've ever owned in fact, and I've had a few. There is very little that can take a Mondeo TDCi 130, full stop. A Peugeot tried this afternoon... gave up. LOL.

I have a 2lt diesel bought last year with 80k on the clock. Had trouble with brake and reverse light switches, cam sensor and starter motor which has been replaced twice in two months. Have been told starter motor trouble is due to fly wheel and will need new flywheel and clutch.

You said in comments you now have a Primera. Oh dear wait till the cam chain starts stretching{common}.Nissans are not the cars they were. But good luck.

I bought a 115ps TDCi on a 2002 and yes, it too had to have the dual mass flywheel, clutch and slave cylinder replaced at a whopping £1100! It's also had a replacement starter motor, due to the failed clutch/flywheel. It's had subframe bushes too as well as 2 full length brake pipes, and it's just 6 and a bit years old! Also has to replace the central locking control lock at £180. Curiously the OSF brake caliper has been replaced twice!

I was planning on a ST TDCi with 155ps next, but not now given the dual mass flywheel issue!