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Ford Mondeo 1.6 16V Trend common faults.

2007–2010, hatchback, petrol, 125 HP.

The fault list covers: PNBA engine, IB5, M66, MMT6, MTX75 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

6 fault write-ups. All are important. No recall on the list.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

6 important faults

Crankshaft pulley: the rubber layer of the vibration damper separates

expensive

The accessory pulley of the crankshaft is also a vibration damper: there is a layer of rubber between the outer and the inner part. This rubber ages and separates between 100 000 and 150 000 kilometres, and from then on the pulley no longer does its job.

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The symptom is vibration at idle, felt through the steering wheel and the instruments, and with it a squeal from the auxiliary belt. The pulley can also be checked by hand: bulging rubber and an outer ring that wobbles when pressed give it away.

At replacement what matters is what goes in its place. A pulley of factory quality with a proper damper is needed; the solid variant without damping is not suitable for this engine.

Another question belongs here, because it concerns the same bolt. At a timing belt change the crankshaft bolt has to be replaced with a new one according to the factory procedure, and tightened in two stages, to 40 newton metres and then a further 90 degrees, with the crankshaft locked. With the belt off the crankshaft must not be turned, because the pistons damage the valves. If the belt change was not done this way, the damage is inside the engine.

between 100,000 and 150,000 km

What to check

  • Watch the vibration at idle: if it is felt through the steering wheel and the instruments, it belongs here
  • Listen to the auxiliary belt: a squeal points to the same thing
  • Look at the pulley: bulging rubber and an outer ring that wobbles when pressed are signs
2 more steps in the write-up

IB5 manual: worn synchros and differential bearings in the larger models

expensive

In the smaller models, the Fiesta, the Fusion and the B-Max, the IB5 holds up well, but in the larger Focus and especially the Mondeo it does less well: there the engine torque and the weight of the car put a heavier load on the same gearbox.

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The synchros and the gears can wear before 100,000 km, and around 150,000 km the differential bearings need replacing. On cars with the 1.8-litre engine the differential pinion pin often breaks when the wheels spin.

between 100,000 and 150,000 km

What to check

  • While rolling, change down into second and third: worn synchros grate here
  • At a steady speed, listen for noise: a worn differential bearing gives a droning sound
  • In a slow corner, listen for knocking from the gearbox
2 more steps in the write-up

M66 manual: worn shift mechanism behind the powerful engines

expensive

The gearbox is reliable and durable, but it sits behind particularly powerful engines, and that shows on the shift mechanism: between 100,000 and 150,000 km it often wears out, which makes shifting stiff, and that is most obvious in winter.

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Above 200,000 km the bearings can drone and the dual-mass flywheel can knock. The oil level is worth watching, because leaks are common and the gearbox tolerates a dropping level badly.

between 100,000 and 150,000 km

What to check

  • Set off from cold: every gear must engage without snagging
  • Stop and select reverse: it must not grate or need force
  • At a steady speed, listen for noise: a worn bearing drones
2 more steps in the write-up

MMT6 manual: worn shift mechanism, hard shifting when cold

expensive

The gearbox itself is reliable, but the shift mechanism wears noticeably between 100,000 and 150,000 km. Shifting becomes stiff, and it is most obvious when cold: the lever does not want to find its place, or the gear only goes in with force.

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At high mileage the synchros on the first two gears wear out, and then the shift grates. The gearbox comes with a dual-mass flywheel, which is not the most durable part either.

between 100,000 and 150,000 km

What to check

  • Set off from cold: both first and second must engage without snagging
  • Stop and select reverse: it must not grate or need force
  • While rolling, change down into second: this is where worn synchros are audible
2 more steps in the write-up

Thermostat housing: the plastic goes brittle and the coolant leaks

expensive

The thermostat housing is made of plastic, and the hose connector is moulded as part of it. Under thermal cycling the material goes brittle and then cracks. The fault appears between 100 000 and 150 000 kilometres.

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The leak appears under the intake manifold and runs down from there. What the owner notices is that the coolant level keeps falling, and a smell of coolant is noticeable in the cabin. If the crack opens further, the engine overheats, and from then on the cylinder head and the gasket are at risk as well.

Replacing the housing is not expensive, and it is worth replacing it with an aluminium part instead of the factory plastic: the metal version does not go brittle.

between 100,000 and 150,000 km

What to check

  • Shine a light under the intake manifold: that is where the trace of coolant appears
  • Look at the coolant level and ask whether it has had to be topped up
  • Smell the cabin: the smell of coolant belongs here
3 more steps in the write-up

MTX75 manual: leaking seals, worn shafts

expensive

The gearbox itself is reliable and has two weak points. One is the input shaft bearing, which is short-lived, the other is the oil seals, which leak continuously.

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The leak is the more dangerous one: any drop in the oil level wears the shafts and the gear rims, and that wear cannot be undone. Most versions come with a dual-mass flywheel, which is not the most durable part either.

What to check

  • Look at the bottom of the gearbox and where the driveshafts come out: fresh oil means a leak
  • Ask when the gearbox oil level was last checked, and ask for the invoice
  • At a steady speed, listen for noise: a worn input shaft bearing drones
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Ford Mondeo 1.6 16V Trend

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

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Engine and transmission

1 engines · 4 transmissions

PNBA · 1.6 FLH

92 kW (125 HP) · petrol

IB5 · 5-speed manual

manual · 5 speed

Torque limit185 Nm
MakerFord/Getrag

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it. More than one transmission is possible. The gear count does not tell them apart. The code is on the side of the transmission.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
Trend
Body
hatchback
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
manual
Engine size
1596 cc
Power
92 kW (125 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
2007–2010

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years
All Mk4 versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms