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What to check: Ford Galaxy

CBy age

BBy miles

Ranked across all years of the Ford Galaxy, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

LeaksRuns high on this modelLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 8.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 4.6% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

Bushes and ball jointsDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 4.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

Headlamp lensesRuns high on this modelCheck for condensation inside the headlamps and for cloudy or yellowed lenses. Both attract MOT trouble, and moisture inside a sealed LED unit generally means a whole new lamp.Recorded on 2.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.3%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 1.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

Rubber boots and gaitersOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

SeatbeltsTug each belt sharply to check the locking mechanism catches, then make sure every belt runs out freely and clicks home. A lazy retractor is an MOT failure and often a seats-out job to put right.Recorded on 0.8% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.0%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourRuns high on this modelCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 31.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 16.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

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.

Full Ford Galaxy reliability report