2014 Ford Galaxy petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2014 Ford Galaxy petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2014 Ford Galaxy petrol than on all cars registered in 2014.

• Brake pads1.9× usual
  Ford Galaxy

  19.3% All 2014 cars

  10.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 2.3% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

• Sidelights4.2× usual
  Ford Galaxy

  10.6% All 2014 cars

  2.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 10%, against 2.2% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  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.

• Number plate lights2.4× usual
  Ford Galaxy

  11% All 2014 cars

  4.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.4% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

Common 2014 Ford Galaxy petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2014 Ford Galaxy petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  36% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Lights and electrics
  32% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Brakes
  27% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Suspension
  23% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Exhaust and emissions
  10% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  10% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2014 Ford Galaxy petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Steering column clunk and power steering pump failure

  All engines

  A clunk from the steering column is common and often comes back after a fix, and power steering pumps fail.

  At the viewing: Turn the wheel at a standstill and on the move, and listen.

  Source: What Car?: used Ford Galaxy (2006-2015) reliability

• Stiff brake pedal and diesel cut-out recalls

  Some cars

  Recalls covered overly stiff brake pedals and diesels cutting out.

  At the viewing: Ask a Ford dealer to confirm the recalls were done.

  Source: What Car?: used Ford Galaxy (2006-2015) reliability

• May have a timing belt that runs in oil (1.5 EcoBoost)

  1.5 EcoBoost petrol

  Ford used both wet timing belts and timing chains on its 1.5 EcoBoost petrol. A wet belt can break down if oil changes are late, starving the engine of oil. A Ford dealer can tell you from the VIN which this car has.

  At the viewing: Ask whether it has a belt or a chain, and for a full service history with the right oil.

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

• Alarm faults, loose trim and door seals

  All engines

  The alarm is a recurring electrical fault, and trim and door seals don't stay in place.

  At the viewing: Test the alarm and look at the door seals.

  Source: What Car?: used Ford Galaxy (2006-2015) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2014 Ford Galaxy petrol

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

1. Has the steering column or power steering pump been replaced?
2. Have the brake pedal and diesel recalls been done?
3. Does it have a timing belt or chain, and when was the belt last changed?
4. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2014 Ford Galaxy petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the sidelights? (Flagged at MOT 4.2× as often on the 2014 Ford Galaxy petrol as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2014 Ford Galaxy petrol as on other cars the same age.)