Ford Galaxy
1.5 EcoBoost 121 kW/165 hp, S-Max II facelift (2018-2023) / Galaxy III facelift
Solid Diesel
165 hp in the Galaxy Mk3: adequate for pleasant family trips. Good efficiency.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The 1.5 EcoBoost C15HDTX (Focus ST-Line, Mondeo MK5 ST-Line) belongs to the affected engine generation with hairline cracks in the cylinder block. Revised block fitted from mid-2019 onwards.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant level, white exhaust smoke, foam in coolant expansion tank
Fuel-diluted engine oil can impair turbo bearing lubrication and lead to premature bearing wear. Especially during frequent cold-start full-throttle use.
Symptoms: Whistling from turbo, bluish smoke, boost pressure loss
Early 1.5 EcoBoost four-cylinder engines (up to approx. March 2019) are prone to hairline cracks in the cylinder block. Coolant enters the cylinders and causes severe engine damage. Short-block replacement required.
Symptoms: Rough cold start, white smoke from exhaust, coolant loss without external leak, check engine light.
Some 1.5 EcoBoost engines show broken piston rings as early as 35,000 km. The affected cylinder loses compression completely; short-block replacement is required.
Symptoms: Sudden power loss, severe stumbling or engine stalling, measurable compression loss in one cylinder.
Like all 1.5 EcoBoost variants, the C15HDTX shows fuel dilution of engine oil during short-trip use. Oil change intervals of no more than 10,000 km instead of the prescribed 20,000 km are recommended.
Symptoms: Oil level rising, fuel smell in engine oil, oil looks thinner than usual
The 1.5 EcoBoost four-cylinder can develop increased oil consumption from worn piston rings. Individual cases show failed oil scraper rings as early as 30,000 km.
Symptoms: Oil level drops between changes, blue exhaust on cold start, oil consumption above 0.5 l/1,000 km
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
Ford recalled hundreds of thousands of Galaxy and S-Max vehicles: the original rear axle trailing arm bolts can fracture due to corrosion. If they break, the vehicle loses rear axle control — acute accident risk.
Ford recalled Galaxy models with EcoBoost engines and manual gearboxes because heavy clutch wear could cause overheating and fracture of the clutch pressure plate — with a risk of fire in the engine bay.
In the Galaxy III too, the wiring harness runs beneath the washer fluid reservoir. Overfilling or a leaking reservoir allows washer fluid to attack the cable insulation, causing cooling fan failures, AC problems and P0003 fault codes.
The heavy Galaxy III wears its brake discs and pads significantly faster than average for comparable vehicles. ADAC and TÜV reports confirm this as a frequent fault.
The Galaxy III is — like many Ford models of this generation — known for elevated oil consumption. Without regular oil level checks, engine damage from oil starvation can occur.
The Galaxy III's electric sliding doors attract attention through failed contact sensors and worn guide rails. Clicking noises when accelerating or braking and occasional unresponsive sliding door operation are documented issues.
Despite fundamentally improved build quality in the Galaxy III, tie rod ends and anti-roll bar drop links continue to show elevated wear, which is regularly flagged at MOT inspections. The high vehicle weight accelerates axle wear.
Reports & Tests
442 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2015–2023). Most reported: Backup Camera/Sensors (145), Other (88), Electrical (61).