2020 Ford Mondeo diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2020 Ford Mondeo diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2020 Ford Mondeo diesel than on all cars registered in 2020.

• Brake pads1.7× usual
  Ford Mondeo

  13.1% All 2020 cars

  7.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 1.4% of all 2020 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.

• Number plate lights3.4× usual
  Ford Mondeo

  2.4% All 2020 cars

  0.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.7%, against 0.2% of all 2020 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.

• Number plates2.6× usual
  Ford Mondeo

  2.3% All 2020 cars

  0.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.2% of all 2020 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 2020 Ford Mondeo diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2020 Ford Mondeo diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  28% 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.

• Brakes
  17% 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.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

• Lights and electrics
  6% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Suspension
  2% 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.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  1% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Known faults on the 2020 Ford Mondeo diesel

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.

• 12V battery fire-risk recall

  Cars built up to 11 Feb 2019

  Cars built from the start of production up to 11 February 2019 were recalled for a battery wiring problem that could cause a fire in extreme cases. The fix is a new fused wiring loom.

  At the viewing: Confirm the recall has been done. Look for scorching or non-original wiring around the battery.

  Source: What Car?: used Ford Mondeo 2014-2022 review

• Adaptive LED headlights could cut out

  Adaptive LED headlights, built up to 22 Dec 2015

  On early cars built up to 22 December 2015 with the optional adaptive LED headlights, a software bug could turn the headlights off without warning. Ford dealers update the software for free.

  At the viewing: If the car has adaptive LED lights, ask whether the software update was done and test the lights.

  Source: What Car?: used Ford Mondeo 2014-2022 review

• Oil pump belt that runs in oil (2.0 EcoBlue diesel)

  2.0 EcoBlue diesel (most Ford 2.0 diesels from about 2018)

  The 2.0 EcoBlue diesel drives its oil pump with a belt that runs in the engine oil. As it wears it can shed rubber and cut oil pressure, which can wreck the engine. Ford has shortened the change interval on the Transit to 6 years or 100,000 miles.

  At the viewing: Ask when the oil pump belt was last changed, and watch for an oil-pressure warning light.

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

• Air-con compressor clutch recall

  Cars built 1 Sep 2014 - 20 Apr 2018

  Cars built between 1 September 2014 and 20 April 2018 were recalled because the air-con compressor clutch could fail. Ford fits a new clutch.

  At the viewing: Run the air-con and make sure it blows cold. Confirm the recall status.

  Source: What Car?: used Ford Mondeo 2014-2022 review

• Cracked oil sump from overheating

  Cars built 19 Sep 2014 - 28 Sep 2015

  On cars built between 19 September 2014 and 28 September 2015, the oil sump could crack if the engine overheated badly. Ford released software that spots overheating sooner.

  At the viewing: Look under the car for oil leaks and ask whether the software update was done.

  Source: What Car?: used Ford Mondeo 2014-2022 review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2020 Ford Mondeo diesel

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

1. Has the battery wiring loom recall been done?
2. Has the headlight software update been fitted?
3. Has the oil pump belt been changed, and is there a full service history?
4. Any recent work on the brake pads? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2020 Ford Mondeo diesel as on other cars the same age.)
5. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the 2020 Ford Mondeo diesel as on other cars the same age.)
6. Any recent work on the number plates? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2020 Ford Mondeo diesel as on other cars the same age.)