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Ford Galaxy

All generations and engines together · 43,212 MOT tests in the 2025 data · typical mileage at age 7: 102k

First-time failure at age 7
21.6%
Across 4,820 tests. The average across all tracked models is 19.5%.
Rank at age 7
168 of 239
1 = lowest failure rate among the models tracked.
Typical mileage at age 7
102k miles
Check the mileage view below; low-mileage models can look better by age than they are.

Generation

Split by first-registration year. Cars registered in a changeover year can belong to either generation.

How this model wears

Ford GalaxyClass average, all tracked models

Known issues

Measured

Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.

What testers flag

Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.

Faults with the car itself

The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 15,657 tests in this band.

Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
Advisory
8.9%class 2.0%
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Advisory
4.9%class 5.9%
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Fail
3.3%class 1.3%
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Fail
2.3%class 0.8%
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
2.0%class 0.3%
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
Advisory
1.2%class 2.3%
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Fail
1.1%class 0.1%
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
Minor
1.0%class 0.6%
Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Advisory
0.8%class 0.0%

Wear, upkeep and luck

Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
35.4%class 22.9%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Advisory
16.3%class 8.7%
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
Advisory
9.2%class 10.1%
A tyre seriously damaged
Advisory
8.1%class 12.7%
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
Minor
4.6%class 1.2%
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Advisory
4.5%class 2.2%
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Fail
4.0%class 2.2%
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Fail
3.7%class 1.6%

Unconfirmed issues

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.

EGR clogging and limp-home mode

Emerging

On the TDCi diesels the EGR system can clog and trigger the amber Engine Malfunction light with a noticeable drop in power, often after a run of short, cold journeys that never let the engine warm through properly. Owners report it clearing after a spell of sustained motorway driving, but it tends to come back on cars used mostly for the school run and shops. A proper EGR clean or replacement runs to a few hundred pounds; there's no fixed mileage pattern.

Reported on 2.0 and 2.2 TDCi diesels, mostly short-journey cars · sources: Honest John reader reports

PowerShift automatic judder and clutch failure

Automatic (PowerShift), 2006-2015 diesel only

The dual-clutch PowerShift gearbox fitted to diesel automatics on the pre-2015 Galaxy needs its fluid and filter changed roughly every three years, or the clutch packs wear and give juddery, jerky take-up from a stop. Owners have reported clutch pack replacements around £900-£1,000 and full mechatronic unit failures quoted at £2,100-£2,600. A full fluid change history seems to be the difference between a car that's fine and one heading for a new gearbox.

Reported 60-110k miles on neglected examples · sources: Honest John reader reports

1.6 EcoBoost coolant leaks and cracked cylinder head

1.6 EcoBoost petrol only

The 1.6 EcoBoost petrol has a history of cooling system leaks that can end in a cracked cylinder head if not caught early. Ford ran a recall (ref 17S09) covering leak and fire risk on affected cars, but owners report coolant loss returning even after dealer repairs and sensor changes. One owner was quoted around £8,600 for a replacement engine once the head had gone, so check coolant level and ask whether the recall work was done.

Reported from around 40k miles · sources: Honest John reader reports

Touchscreen and electrical gremlins

Emerging

Touchscreen sat-nav and climate control units have failed on cars across both the pre- and post-2015 Galaxy, sometimes with long waits for replacement parts. Separately, owners have reported random shutdowns, false dash warnings for tyre pressure and brake fluid, and battery drain traced back to a body control module fault. None of it is officially recognised as a pattern, but it comes up often enough in reader reports to be worth testing properly on a viewing.

Reported across ages and mileages, both generations · sources: Honest John reader reports

LED headlight recall aftermath

Confirmed pattern

Ford recalled post-2015 Galaxys in 2016 (ref 2016/113) to fix an LED headlight software fault. Some owners who had the fix applied then found the headlights ran dimmer and reacted more slowly, with dark patches when following another car. Worth checking the dip beam properly after dark on a test drive, since a car can have had the recall done and still not throw a great beam.

Mk3, 2015-2023 · sources: Honest John reader reports

2.0 TDCi vacuum pump and cambelt pulley wear

2.0 TDCi diesel only

On the 2.0 TDCi diesel, several owners report the brake servo vacuum pump failing, and cambelt pulleys turning noisy well before the official replacement interval. Camshaft oil seals often get replaced alongside the cambelt as a precaution, typically around 65,000 miles. None of this throws a dashboard warning, so a seller may genuinely not know it's coming.

Reported from around 60-65k miles · sources: Honest John reader reports

Viewing one? Ask this

Built from the two sections above.

Start a diesel stone cold and watch for the Engine Malfunction light or a flat spot in power. That's the EGR clogging issue; it points to a car used mostly on short journeys.
On a diesel automatic, ask for proof the PowerShift fluid and filter have been changed every 3 years, then feel for judder pulling away from a stop. No history and any judder means the clutch packs are already on the way out.
On a 1.6 EcoBoost petrol, check the coolant level and ask if the cooling system recall (17S09) was carried out. Low or topped-up coolant with no recall stamp is the early sign of the head-cracking issue.
Try every button on the touchscreen, sat-nav and climate control. Dead zones or a frozen screen mean a costly unit swap with a possible parts wait.
Do a night-time or dim-garage check of the headlights, especially on a post-2015 car. Dim or sluggish beams even after the recall fix suggest the update hasn't fully solved it.
On a 2.0 TDCi, listen for a rattly cambelt pulley and ask when the cambelt and vacuum pump were last done. No record by 65k miles means both are due, and neither shows up as a warning light.
Read the full MOT history, not just the pass certificates. The same advisory repeating year after year means nobody has actually fixed it.

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