2005 Ford Mondeo Zetec-S from UK and Ireland - Comments

No 2 Fuel injector failed at 11000 miles. Replaced under warranty.

No 3 Fuel injector failed at 13000 miles. Replaced under warranty.

No 2 Fuel injector went out of calibration at 16000 miles. Recalibrated under warranty.

No 2 injector again at 19000 miles. Metal shards discovered in fuel system.

Fuel pump failure at 24000 miles. Was told it was caused by misfuelling and the warranty wouldn't pay. Luckily as I use the car for business, I keep my fuel receipts and was able to document every litre of fuel ever put into the car alongside mileage. Warranty claim eventually accepted.

Great car completely ruined by the world's most unreliable diesel engine. I had a mk2 1.8TD Mondeo which was gutless and noisy, but clocked up 150,000 utterly reliable miles. This has given me constant problems, and nobody can tell me why the injectors keep failing, or why the UKP2000 fuel pump failed at just 24k despite the car only having been run on quality brand diesel and being serviced exactly to Ford specs by a Ford dealer.

The car's strengths are in its performnce, refinement, fuel economy, build quality and comfort. Sadly, this Ford diesel engine is a joke. Every problem I have had is well known and documented, and Ford seem unable or unwilling to take responsibility. The car has only managed a maximum of 5000 miles between fuel system failures.

I am selling the car this year. I wouldn't entertain owning it anywhere close to its warranty expiry date. After three fantastic Fords, it pains me to say that my honest advice would be to avoid this car at all costs. If you must have a diesel Ford, buy a Focus or C-Max with the Peugeot developed diesel engine.

Bitterly disappointing.

I beg to differ mate as the diesel in the Mondeo is as good as any Volkswagen diesel. Fuel injectors aren't part of the engine hardly.

I agree it's a great engine when it works.

Injector problems are a known issue, as are pump failures.

Injectors are part of the fuel system which is part of the engine. Try running the car without injectors and see how far you get.

"Fuel injectors aren't part of the engine hardly."

OK...

Well maybe they are, but the diesal engine that is in the mondeo has been said to be as good as a volkswagen diesal so they must be good as volkswagens make the best diesals I will be getting one of these next year can't wait.

I'm on my second zetec-s, it's as faultless as the first one was, day in, day out. Are you sure you have a Mondeo Tdci and not a VW diesel??

I just put my 53 plate zetec s tdci 130 past 50k not an ounce of problem with the engine, but a whine from the 'box. I have heard of the fuel pumps going, but they had done 80k plus, and one guy foolishly put red diesel in it when the seals are basically dissolved in the stuff. Anyone had g/box trouble?

I know of someone who runs red diesel in his 2005 TDCI, and he never had any problems with it at all.

My 02 2litre tdci has done 72000 mls on its second set of injectors and now pump has broken up which means another 4 injectors as well as the rest of parts required to repair it being a diesel mechanic myself it still works out expensive for the humble worker.

Sorry to hear about your diesel saga; you mention C-Max as an alternative -- I just had a 35000-mile engine destroyed by a faulty turbo. It was still under warranty; lots of hassle, phone calls, holiday wrecked.

So another unhappy customer here.

Issues with the fuel system on Ford's 2.0TDCi Mondeo / Transit engine are both well documented and well known.

I was told by a diesel specialist not to touch one with a cattle prod. He's seen 03 platers go to the scrapper through faults costing more than the value of the car to put right. Also, the dealers don't understand them and are defeated by even the simplest problems.

Great engine when it works, but thoroughly awful the rest of the time.

I have just bought the same car with 104000 on the clock, has never had any problems according to the detailed history, only handbrake cables at 92000 which is normal for a mondeo anyway. Not going to slate its rivals, I am just hoping it stays reliable.