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Ford Transit Custom problems (2012–2023)

All 2 engines of the Ford Transit Custom that we have documented have high or critical severity faults: the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue and the 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma). None has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma), with a «With caution» verdict.[1]

Outside the engine: Outside the engine, the Transit Custom (2012-2023) has no everyday faults documented in the sources consulted, but it does have four recalls notified in the EU: brake pedal (2012-2013), driver's seat belt (2017), dual-battery cable (2019) and suspension arms (2019-2020). They affect only specific production batches.[2][3][4][5][6]

Ford Transit Custom (2012–2023)
Photo: DieselFordMondeo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Reference image for this generation.
02468105.6out of 10

Ford Transit Custom rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 9 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated

  • Engine5.6From 4.1 to 7.1 depending on the engine
  • Gearbox10.0No documented faults
  • Suspension7.21 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Brakes7.41 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering8.6Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.5 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electrical system7.91 fault
  • Headlights and lights7.6Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.0 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior7.7Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.9 times the defects normal for its age
  • Airbags and safety7.11 fault

Ranked 24 of 45 among the vans with solid evidence. See the ranking

The weak points of the Ford Transit Custom

  1. 1Critical severity: Degradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue engine
  2. 2Critical severity: Wet oil pump belt (2.0 EcoBlue)1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue engine
  3. 3Critical severity: Lower suspension arms with missing, partial or insufficiently penetrated weldsSuspension
  4. 4Critical severity: Driver's seat belt height adjuster bolt with incorrect tightening torqueAirbags and safety
  5. 5Critical severity: Brake pedal pin clip out of specification: the pedal can come away from the brake servoBrakes

Documented engines, from highest to lowest risk

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

5 recalls and campaigns documented, the latest: Campaign 20S53: weld penetration of the lower arm. See the campaigns for the Ford Transit Custom

13 sourcesHow we work

1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

Ford 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue (Panther) · Diesel

In the Transit Custom
2016–2023[7][8][9]
Names
2.0 EcoBlue 105 · 2.0 EcoBlue 130 · 2.0 EcoBlue 170 · 2.0 EcoBlue 185
Faults that affect it
3 · 2 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
59
High risk

Verdict for the version it uses

Faults that affect the Transit Custom

  1. Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingDegradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)Yes: the 2.0 EcoBlue debuted a timing belt that runs bathed in oil on Ford's diesels. Over the years it can degrade and shed debris that affects the lubrication circuit, with a risk of seizure. A roundup by Autopista.es places it in the Focus, Kuga, Transit and Transit/Tourneo Custom.
  2. Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalLubricationWet oil pump belt (2.0 EcoBlue)In addition to the timing belt, the 2.0 EcoBlue drives the oil pump with a second belt that also runs bathed in oil. If it degrades or breaks, the engine suddenly loses lubrication pressure, with the same risk of seizure as the timing belt.
  3. Medium severityFrequency: RareEmissions controlEmissions system warnings (AdBlue/EGR) and injector wearOn the Ford Focus IV and Kuga III, generations that now only use EcoBlue, some owners report, occasionally (not in the majority), AdBlue system warnings or injector failures. It is a small sample, and we have not found that Ford has announced a campaign of its own for the EcoBlue for this reason.

Transit Custom 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue pageAll versions and faults of the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma)

Safest option

Ford Duratorq TDCi «Puma» 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 · Diesel

In the Transit Custom
2012–2016[11]
Name
2.2 TDCi
Faults that affect it
2 · 1 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
29
Moderate risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • 2.2 TDCi 110/115/130 (Transit VI/VII, 2006-2014)2006–2014 · 110–130 hp

    With caution

    Haynes records injector faults on the 115 hp (2006-2011), EGR valve faults on the 110 hp and particulate filter contamination from 2008; the fuel system history is worth checking before buying.[1]

Faults that affect the Transit Custom

Only those that affect the versions and years that this car used. The 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma) has 3 documented faults in total.

  1. High severityFrequency: OccasionalEmissions controlEGR valve and EGR cooler faults on the 2.2 TDCiThe sources point to the EGR valve (jerking from around 50,000 km, according to CarVerif) and the EGR cooler (coolant leaking into the oil, according to AutoTrader) as weak points of the 2.2; on the Transit, Haynes cites faults with the EGR valve and hoses.
  2. Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionFaulty injectors on the 2.2 and 2.4 TDCiHaynes documents faulty injectors on the 115 hp Transit 2.2 and the 140 hp 2.4, and L'argus reports an injector recall on the 2014-2015 Boxer and Jumper 2.2 HDi. They cause rough idle, loss of power or stalling.

Transit Custom 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma) pageAll versions and faults of the 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma)

Faults of the Ford Transit Custom outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

What the MOT inspection finds on the Ford Transit Custom

Official Dutch MOT (APK) inspection data: 3,847 inspections of 1,578 cars registered between 2012 and 2022, compared with cars of the same age.

  • Suspension and axles· counts in the score

    Defects in 4.7% of inspections; in cars of its age, 4.4%.

    Average

  • Brakes· counts in the score

    Defects in 5.2% of inspections; in cars of its age, 6%.

    Average

  • Steering· counts in the score

    Defects in 1% of inspections; in cars of its age, 2.1%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Headlights and lights· counts in the score

    Defects in 25.1% of inspections; in cars of its age, 25.8%.

    Average

  • Rust and bodywork· counts in the score

    Defects in 0.5% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.6%.

    Average

  • Exhaust and emissions

    Defects in 2.8% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.1%.

    Average

  • Fluid leaks

    Defects in 2.4% of inspections; in cars of its age, 2.6%.

    Average

  • Glass, wipers and mirrors

    Defects in 5.4% of inspections; in cars of its age, 6.4%.

    Average

  • Tyres and wheels· depends mostly on maintenance

    Defects in 17.3% of inspections; in cars of its age, 18.4%.

    Average

The inspection measures wear and the defects visible at a periodic check, not engine or electronics failures. Source: RDW Open Data (public domain). How we calculate it · opendata.rdw.nl

Checklist for buying a used Ford Transit Custom

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue (2016–2023)

Degradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)

Critical severity

Wet oil pump belt (2.0 EcoBlue)

Critical severity

Emissions system warnings (AdBlue/EGR) and injector wear

Medium severity

If it has the 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma) (2012–2016)

EGR valve and EGR cooler faults on the 2.2 TDCi

High severity

Faulty injectors on the 2.2 and 2.4 TDCi

Medium severity

Wear parts for the Ford Transit Custom

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

Affiliate links: if you buy from these shops, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility against the registration plate or VIN before ordering. Affiliate links

Buying a Ford Transit Custom?

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Own a Ford Transit Custom? Tell us what faults you have had, at what mileage and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ford Transit Custom reliable?

All 2 engines of the Ford Transit Custom that we have documented have high or critical severity faults: the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue and the 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma). None has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma), with a «With caution» verdict. Outside the engine, the Transit Custom (2012-2023) has no everyday faults documented in the sources consulted, but it does have four recalls notified in the EU: brake pedal (2012-2013), driver's seat belt (2017), dual-battery cable (2019) and suspension arms (2019-2020). They affect only specific production batches.

Which Ford Transit Custom engine is the most reliable?

Among the 2 engines we have documented, none has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the 2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma), with a «With caution» verdict. Haynes records injector faults on the 115 hp (2006-2011), EGR valve faults on the 110 hp and particulate filter contamination from 2008; the fuel system history is worth checking before buying.[1]

What problems does the Ford Transit Custom have apart from the engine?

Outside the engine, the Transit Custom (2012-2023) has no everyday faults documented in the sources consulted, but it does have four recalls notified in the EU: brake pedal (2012-2013), driver's seat belt (2017), dual-battery cable (2019) and suspension arms (2019-2020). They affect only specific production batches. The most important documented faults are: lower suspension arms with missing, partial or insufficiently penetrated welds (suspension, critical severity), driver's seat belt height adjuster bolt with incorrect tightening torque (airbags and safety, critical severity), brake pedal pin clip out of specification: the pedal can come away from the brake servo (brakes, critical severity) and dual-battery positive cable incorrectly fitted, with loss of power and risk of overheating (electrical system, high severity).[2][3][4][5][6]

What faults does the Ford Transit Custom have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: degradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue) (1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue, critical severity), wet oil pump belt (2.0 EcoBlue) (1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue, critical severity), EGR valve and EGR cooler faults on the 2.2 TDCi (2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma), high severity), faulty injectors on the 2.2 and 2.4 TDCi (2.2 / 2.4 / 3.2 TDCi (Puma), medium severity) and emissions system warnings (AdBlue/EGR) and injector wear (1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue, medium severity).

What is the best year to buy a Ford Transit Custom?

According to our rating by year, the best are 2015 and 2014 (8.2/10); the worst rated is 2019 (5.3/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Does the Ford Transit Custom have recalls?

Yes: we have documented 5 campaigns for the Ford Transit Custom, such as campaign 20S53: weld penetration of the lower arm (2020). Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.[3]

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Ford Transit diesel 2006-2013 buyer's guideHaynes · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026
  2. Ford Transit Custom (2019 – 2020): accident, suspension, lower control arms (Safety Gate A12/01205/20)car-recalls.eu · Other source · published 8 September 2020 · consulted 5 October 2026
  3. Ford Transit Custom (2020): suspension/accident, weld penetration of the lower control arm (Safety Gate A12/01358/20)car-recalls.eu · Other source · published 22 October 2020 · consulted 5 October 2026
  4. Ford Transit Custom (2019): electronic fire, twin battery positive cable (Safety Gate A12/00508/20)car-recalls.eu · Other source · published 5 April 2020 · consulted 5 October 2026
  5. Ford Transit Custom (2017): injury, seat-belts (Safety Gate A12/0353/19)car-recalls.eu · Other source · published 5 March 2019 · consulted 5 October 2026
  6. Ford Transit Custom (2012 – 2013): accident, brakes, brake pedal pin retaining clip (Safety Gate A12/0290/13)car-recalls.eu · Other source · published 8 March 2013 · consulted 5 October 2026
  7. Nuevo motor Ford 2.0 EcoBlue Diésel: más potente y ahorradorAutopista.es · Motoring press · published April 2016 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Ford Transit CustomWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  9. Which Cars Have a Wet Belt? Full UK Engine List (2026)CarOkay · Other source · published 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026
  10. Todos los coches afectados ya por problemas de motor a causa de correas de distribución en aceiteAutopista.es · Motoring press · published February 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  11. Ford Duratorq engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
  12. Ford Ranger buyer's guide (2011-2022)AutoTrader South Africa · Motoring press · consulted 5 October 2026
  13. Fiabilité Peugeot Boxer : rappel sur les injecteursL'argus · Motoring press · published 28 April 2015 · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French