2001 Ford Mondeo LX from UK and Ireland - Comments

There is an irritating tapping sound which appears to come from the front passenger door. This disappears when the window is lowered a couple of inches, which seems to indicate that the source is the window control mechanism. Matlock Ford have looked for the fault twice, and say they have replaced the window control mechanism, but the noise is still there. They say they have consulted Ford and concluded that the noise is attributable to "body flexing". I do not accept this. I have twice written to the Ford Customer Services Department, who refuse to do anything further about it. Any ideas for a "self fix" would be appreciated.

There is also a vibration in the centre of the dashboard under certain conditions - right in the centre in front of the air vent. If I apply pressure to the top of the dashboard, the noise stops. Unfortunately the fault is intermittent and impossible to reproduce on demand. It is, nevertheless, very irritating.

Overall, the car is extremely good value for money. The miles per gallon of diesel is quite unbelievable for a large car. Pity about the rattles and the attitude of Ford Customer Services!!

Totally agree - I have similar Mondeo with similar faults - overall nice to drive and a bargain but Ford dealers either unable/unwilling to help and Ford Customer Services a waste of a phone call.

Its a real shame Ford can't simply make a car with better interior trim - the engines/chassis etc are fine but the car's interior is the environment their customers sit in - and they squeak and rattle, so the customers get unhappy. My next car will be a Skoda Octavia RS - pace of an Audi TT, built like a Passat, price of a Mondeo.

The Skoda Octavia's cabin space is only the size of a VW Bora. It has much less rear leg room than the Passat or Mondeo. The Skoda Superb is the Passat equivalent, plus 100mm longer.

To the original reviewer, if it makes you feel better, my 3 year old VW Bora V6 4Motion squeaks round corners and bumps too.

I too like my new Mondeo, though I do find the ride a bit firm. I totally agree about the rattles, I have the same one as described on the dash, can't trace it.

Ford did replace a rear grab handle that rattled though.

I have just taken delivery of a new TDCI Mondeo, and have been really surprised. It seems to be an excellent car. Apart that is for an irritating buzz from, yes you, ve guessed, the centre of the dashboard. Seems to be worse on coarse surfaced roads.

With the appalling incompetence of main dealers these days, I've put any ideas of buying a new Mondeo out the window. My current Vauxhall has had minor niggles which main dealers are hopeless at sorting, and after reading the comments on the Mondeo, I'm positive that all main dealers are just as bad as each other. I like the Mondeo, but after reading the comments on this site, have had a rethink and will be buying a 3 yr old high mileage ex-fleet one from the auctions. Minor niggles will hopefully have been sorted, and I'll just have the usual regular repairs & maintenance of a higher mileage car.

My Mercedes 190 had a rattle in the dash, in the end I decided that if the worst thing I could find about the car was a rattle, then the car must be pretty good!