Ford Mondeo MK4 (2007-2014) Most Common Problems

The Mondeo MK4 is an exceptionally successful car not only from a technical point of view, but also from the operational point of view, although it is known for its many ills.

Mondeo MK3 greatly spoiled the opinion of Ford. However, the American company did not give up and reacted properly, creating a completely new model from scratch and in such a way that it would redeem itself for the previous generations. It worked.

Ford did not intend to change the overall concept of the Mondeo. He created a car very similar to its predecessor. Extremely practical, functional, spacious, relatively cheap and providing excellent driving characteristics.

Ford decided to make serious changes, especially in the area of ​​engine – the Achilles’ heel of the previous generation. They turned out to be quite successful, and you can buy any version without exception. Another area that he took care of is the protection of the body against corrosion. It also worked.

Characteristics of the model Mondeo MK4

Ford Mondeo MK4 debuted in 2007, and in 2010 there was a facelift, during which some gasoline and one diesel engines were withdrawn, and the latter was improved. In gasoline engines, the main focus was on lower fuel consumption, and the PowerShift dual-clutch transmission was used in the driveline.

From a practical point of view, this model can be a model of the middle class. The interior offers a lot of space, you can really travel in five. If we take into account the wheelbase, the Mondeo MK4 is actually in the upper class. In this respect, both the Passat and the Škoda Superb are lagging behind.

The trunk depends on the body version (liftback, sedan and station wagon), but still has a capacity of at least 540 liters. In the sedan it is 550 l, while the powerful station wagon offers 555 l.

Construction of the Ford Mondeo MK4

The good news is that the Ford Mondeo MK4, although it has undergone a number of modifications compared to the MK3, still remains a relatively simple car without much fancy. There is electro-hydraulic power steering in the steering system, and an electric parking brake was an option.

In the Mondeo MK4 model, although the idea has not changed, basically the entire chassis has been modernized. New subframes were used, to which new suspension elements were attached.

At the rear, a structure resembling that of the more successful predecessor, the station wagon, was designed. There are four wishbones per wheel, and the shock absorber is mounted separately from the spring.

At the front we have huge triangle wishbones, in which every rubber and pin can be replaced. In some examples, you can find adaptive shock absorbers.

Engines in the Ford Mondeo MK4

After disastrous experiences with the predecessor’s TDDi and TDCi engine, Ford in a sense admitted that it could not make a good diesel and borrowed the structure from the PSA concern, which we know as HDi.

It is not that the TDCi is the same as the HDi, because Ford engine differ in terms of equipment. The base is common. Of course, you can find the Duratorq TDCi inscription on the engine cover. The exception is the 1.8 TDCi. It’s a Ford engine.

Interestingly, gasoline engines also did not have “pure Ford blood”. The smallest 1.6 Ti-VCT is a design developed jointly with Yamaha, the 2.0 and 2.3 with the Mazda, the 2.5 T is a Volvo engine. Only the newer restyled EcoBoost are Ford’s original design.

List of Ford Mondeo MK4 engine versions

Gasoline:

  • 1.6 Ti-VCT – power 110, 120 and 125 HP
  • 1.6 EcoBoost – power 160 HP
  • 2.0 Duratec – power 145 HP
  • 2.0 Duratec – power 145 HP
  • 2.0 EcoBoost – moc 203 i 240 HP
  • 2.5 T – power 220 HP
  • 2.3 Duratec – power 160 HP

Diesel:

  • 1.6 TDCi – power 115 HP
  • 1.8 TDCi – power 100 and 125 HP
  • 2.0 TDCi – power 115, 130 and 140 HP
  • 2.0 TDCi – power 140 and 163 HP
  • 2.2 TDCi biturbo – power 175 HP
  • 2.2 TDCi – power 200 HP

The choice of engine is quite difficult, because Ford offered customers gasoline engines with different concepts depending on the year. Diesels have not changed that much, but choosing from among 10 versions is also not easy. Therefore, to make it easier for you, I have prepared a separate guide on this subject (below).

A more detailed description of the faults and features of each engine can be found in the above article. However, they can be briefly characterized as follows:

  1. The 1.6 Ti-VCT gasoline engine is quite poor in terms of performance and faults. The engine was able to surprise with a sudden failure, but mainly people who do not care about the service (e.g. fleet cars). Today, after more mileage, you need to take care of the oil and cooling system, and nothing bad should happen. It is quite a good engine for LPG and for short distances.
  2. The 1.6 EcoBoost gasoline engine is an alternative in terms of performance for the older 2.0 and 2.3. The engine is more complicated and, like the Ti-VCT, it sometimes surprises with a fault. Recommended for the city, for short distances and for people who do not intend to travel a lot. It works great on long journeys, where it can surprise you with low fuel consumption and good dynamics.
  3. The gasoline 2.0 Duratec is the optimal gasoline engine in every respect. It gives decent performance, is fuel efficient, is durable, simple, cheap to repair and readily available as a part in the event of a major breakdown. LPG stands up well, although you need to choose a good installation and tune it properly. Recommended for gas is the rare version marked as FlexiFuel.
  4. The gasoline 2.0 EcoBoost is a dynamic type of drive, which after the facelift was replaced by a 5-cylinder 2.5-liter engine. It has the right performance for the car and is much more economical, especially at low loads. Theoretically, it is suitable for LPG, but it is better to give it up. In the event of a more serious failure, the engine needs a specialist, not an accidental mechanic.
  5. Gasoline 2.3 Duratec, twin construction with 2.0 Duratec, with a slightly higher power, but similar performance, because it is configured only with a classic automatic machine. As a result, it is also fuel-consuming, but you have to think twice about the LPG installation – the low availability of these engine on the secondary market may result in considerable expenses if it is necessary to replace it.
  6. 2.5 T gasoline in practice, the best engine in the Mondeo MK4, but fuel-hungry. However, its great advantage is the possibility of trouble-free conversion to LPG. The performance of this bike is very good, and the newer EcoBoost is sounding better.
  7. The 1.6 TDCi diesel is the smallest diesel in the Mondeo and is a common structure with the hugely popular 1.6 HDi. As a result, access to many parts is easy and their prices are low. It’s an engine for city driving and short distances, although it performs well on the road. It burns the least of all diesels, which makes up for the relatively frequent breakdowns.
  8. Diesel 1.8 TDCi old Ford design with added Common Rail power system is known for numerous faults, but also great durability. For many users, the lack of a DPF filter is a big advantage. The bike is good for the city, for short distances, but also withstands heavy loads and neglect. And it is for this reason that breakdowns happen. The cost of their removal is relatively low and the engine characteristics differ from the 1.6 TDCi. If you wanted to buy a 1.6 and you like it, but found a nice 1.8, then it’s worth a ride.
  9. Diesel 2.0 TDCi is the most popular and optimal diesel in this model. The main difference between pre-facelift and post-facelift engines is that the early ones had more faults (especially DPF), but they are quite cheap to fix. In newer ones, they are already expensive, but they are less common. There are also no such problems with DPF anymore. In addition, after the facelift, this diesel was combined only with the PowerShift automatic.
  10. Diesel 2.2 TDCi biturbo the most powerful and complex diesel before the facelift. It has a dual boost system, which in the event of a fault can not only be significantly more expensive, but also more problematic for a mechanic when the cause needs to be diagnosed. In addition, the DPF filter is quite problematic (as a rule, already removed). It is hard to find a clear premise behind this engine, except for one – the desire to have a powerful diesel with an automatic. The 2.0 TDCi engines can “squeeze” similar or even better performance than the factory 2.2.
  11. The 2.2 TDCi diesel is the most powerful diesel in the Mondeo and significantly improved compared to its predecessor. It has only one turbo left, a more durable DPF and much better performance. Its main advantage is that it was combined with an automatic machine with a classic converter.

What Common Problems in a Ford Mondeo MK4?

  1. Closing the topic of the driveline, let’s move on to the PowerShift dual-clutch automatic engine. These transmissions are just as fast as the popular DSG.
  2. They are already well worked out and their repair is not a big challenge. Of course, a lot depends on the user and how it is serviced.
  3. Well-groomed powershifts withstand even more than DSGs, but also show more minor faults. You do not have to worry about them, although the safest variant with the automatic machine is the 2.3 petrol one.
  4. Manual transmissions work well without any problems. In diesel engines, the durability of dual mass wheels is average, with one exception.
  5. The two-mass in the 1.8 TDCi is unstable, but this is mainly due to the characteristics of the engine, which has a large turbo lag.
  6. The advantage of this engine is that you can install a replacement with a single-mass wheel without major negative consequences (cost about $ 230).
  7. Overall, the advantage of Mondeo diesels is the availability and decent prices of dual-mass wheels (from $ 178 to $ 313).
  8. They are replaced together with the central slave cylinder, which increases the cost of parts by about $ 65. It is worth knowing that gasoline engines also have dual-mass wheels, with the exception of 1.6 and 2.3.
  9. The Mondeo electrician is a little defective, as it likes to corrode and cause short circuits in some places. This applies, inter alia, to ESP and air conditioning. T
  10. here are also problems with the on-board electronics. Sometimes the air conditioning control engine stops working or malfunctions.
  11. There are also problems with heating the windshield, which was often ordered for diesel engines, but sometimes does not work. Headlamps are another sensitive area.
  12. Corrosion protection of the body has been significantly improved compared to its predecessor. Unfortunately, many people complain of corrosion, but this mainly applies to repaired engine.
  13. The Mondeo untouched sheet is durable. Ford offered a 12-year warranty for this model, covered only by the condition of an annual body inspection at the Dealership.
  14. The suspension of the Mondeo MK4 is improved, more durable, but unfortunately still not resistant to corrosion. Especially the mounting bolts in the rear suspension can corrode.
  15. There is a set of four wishbones per wheel and at least 100,000 each. km, something needs to be done, the prices of the parts, even the original ones, are not scary. Even the so-called sweets. The front, although not particularly durable, is not too expensive either.
  16. Active shock absorbers could be ordered as an option in the most expensive versions. They are quite expensive but very durable. They can be regenerated, although replacement is recommended after 10 years.
  17. The price of one is about $ 223. For a similar amount you can buy a pair of very good quality axle replacements, but without electronic adjustment.
  18. Vehicle vibrations while driving may generate steel rims installed as a replacement for aluminum or non-original alloy wheels. The factory rims have special embossing at the wheel bolt sockets.
  19. They are intended for washers on the pins supporting the brake disc to the hub. In most cases, it is enough to remove these washers and the vibrations will disappear. When replacing the front wheel bearing, you must have a special ring for pressing the hub into the bearing.
  20. The steering system shows clearances before the mileage of 200,000 km. The gear is to blame, it knocks and can also cause the wheels to vibrate. Regeneration costs about $ 290-$ 340.
  21. Whenever there are interference with the chassis, it is necessary to check and adjust the geometry, as the car is quite sensitive to it.
  22. Hoses in the brake system can delaminate quickly and swell. It is worth replacing them with a good Teflon replacement at the first major service. It’s also a good idea not to save on the quality of the front brake discs, as they also cause vibration sometimes.
  23. The car has a lot of faults that result from Ford quality. For example, windshields tear and open, which allows water to seep into the cabin.
  24. The elements of the dashboard can also be irritating, as they crackle or are already quite worn in the pre-facelift copies. While in Focus it does not bother you at all, in Mondeo a bit because of the class of the car.

Conclusion

To sum up: Ford Mondeo MK4 seems to be an emergency car because I mentioned a lot of faults here. However, it should be remembered that this does not apply to every models.

Moreover, Mondeo is not a car with significant or costly breakdowns. Overall, the car is quite durable and cheap to service and repair.

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