Transit Custom timing belt recall

[Paul1]

Thanks and shall keep everyone updated as to how it goes. It’s being looked at in the next few days. Bit of a faff even getting it to the dealership as obv not driveable so got dropped off on the back of a hgv. Recall wise, I only got a verbal report from memory saying it was fine but yep live and learn really should have demanded something in writing and actually thought, if they are bothering to recall then it’s obviously something serious. Wish I’d looked in to it more at the time as sure I would have just got it replaced at the time. Worse case if Ford do not help then obv I’m never buying one ever again but the question is, is there any other van that’s more reliable nowadays? If you google transit custom generally they come up as really reliable. I have had a few vw transporters in the past, both of which have suffered from head gasket issues…

Hey guys, Just wanted to update everyone on the above. Just to recap I have a 2016 plate transit custom with a failed wet belt at 84,000 miles. full service history (not dealer) and i am the 2nd owner. previous was Vailant. The van was recalled last year and went in to get the wet belt checked and was found to be fine. about 9 months later and around 5,000 miles the belt snapped and my local garage told me i needed a new engine which at best would be 5k and at worst around 8k for a recon.

I called Ford HQ who were really helpful and said it was quite likely that ford would sort this for me....

It turns out they did! after having it dropped off at my local dealership booked in for a weeks time they called me a few days ahead of when it was meant to be looked at saying its ready for collection with a new engine having been fitted.

Picked it up and yep, new engine. Obviously one extremely happy customer and hats off to ford who were brilliant. I have read loads of threads with people with far newer and lower mileage vans than mine who weren't so lucky... So yep, still can't quite believe it and definitely now a converted customer for life.

Although shall def be changing the oil every 6,000 miles or so as i do lots of short journeys but yep,, Happy days..the worst start to 2024, followed by the best. Hope some other people on here get a similar result to the one i had.

 

[Rosso]

Hey guys, Just wanted to update everyone on the above. Just to recap I have a 2016 plate transit custom with a failed wet belt at 84,000 miles. full service history (not dealer) and i am the 2nd owner. previous was Vailant. The van was recalled last year and went in to get the wet belt checked and was found to be fine. about 9 months later and around 5,000 miles the belt snapped and my local garage told me i needed a new engine which at best would be 5k and at worst around 8k for a recon.

I called Ford HQ who were really helpful and said it was quite likely that ford would sort this for me....

It turns out they did! after having it dropped off at my local dealership booked in for a weeks time they called me a few days ahead of when it was meant to be looked at saying its ready for collection with a new engine having been fitted.

Picked it up and yep, new engine. Obviously one extremely happy customer and hats off to ford who were brilliant. I have read loads of threads with people with far newer and lower mileage vans than mine who weren't so lucky... So yep, Car and Van Talk https://community.screwfix.com/forums/car-and-van-talk.2031/ still can't quite believe it and definitely now a converted customer for life.

Although shall def be changing the oil every 6,000 miles or so as i do lots of short journeys but yep,, Happy days..the worst start to 2024, followed by the best. Hope some other people on here get a similar result to the one i had.

Great result for you, new lump into an 80,000 miler. You should have years of trouble free service, so your better off than if it hadn't failed.
Hat off to Fords, but how does it stack up financially? Protecting a 60 year reputation has to be worth some investment, but dropping 4 grand into a 7 year old van?

 

[Paul1]

Great result for you, new lump into an 80,000 miler. You should have years of trouble free service, so your better off than if it hadn't failed.
Hat off to Fords, but how does it stack up financially? Protecting a 60 year reputation has to be worth some investment, but dropping 4 grand into a 7 year old van?

It certainly was a great result..feel extremely lucky. see what you are saying regarding protecting their reputation but on such an old vehicle but i would say that in the future i now won't hesitate to buy a ford, and if i can afford it at some stage in my life a new one at that.(although might check this time whether a wet belt is fitted before pushing the button) so they have me as a customer for life and will spread the word. so i guess its good long term customer service wise for ford. I wonder how many people on all the forums only post when they have had a bad experience and don't bother when they have had a good experience...? hmm..

 

[Stens123]

I have a 2018 transit custom just spent £3,500 on new steering rack and power steering pump only to have brake servo to die because of wetbelt degradation,
Mechanic has flushed it over and over and still there’s bits blocking the servo.
Has anyone had same issue