Ford Galaxy
1.6 EcoBoost SCTi 118 kW/160 hp, S-Max I facelift (WA6 2010-2015)
Long-Distance Diesel
160 hp with good torque. The Galaxy WA6 cruises composedly along the motorway.
Engine Weaknesses 7
The 1.6 EcoBoost JTWA (S-Max MK1 FL, Galaxy MK2 FL) is also affected by cylinder head cracks from overheating. The Ford recall on cooling system monitoring applies to this variant as well.
Symptoms: Coolant loss, white exhaust smoke, rising engine temperature
The PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox in combination with the 1.6 EcoBoost JTWA exhibits the well-known shudder on take-off. Gearbox software updates and oil changes every 60,000 km are essential.
Symptoms: Judder on take-off, slipping gearchanges at low speeds, gearbox warning light
The 1.6 EcoBoost JTWA turbocharger wears prematurely when maintenance intervals slip. In the S-Max/Galaxy under heavy load with full payload, wear accelerates.
Symptoms: Whistling turbo noise, declining boost pressure, blue smoke
The 1.6 EcoBoost (2010–2014) was delivered with an unsuitable head gasket. Coolant loss leads to overheating and gasket failure. Recall 17S09 applies to S-Max/Galaxy as well. Repair costs exceed £3,500 when the head is damaged.
Symptoms: Coolant level drops without visible leak; overheating; white exhaust smoke; bubbling in the coolant expansion tank.
Faulty head gasket (2010–2014) prevents adequate coolant flow. Coolant loss can cause the cylinder head to crack from overheating. Oil leaking onto a hot engine creates a fire risk.
Symptoms: Coolant level drops without visible external leak; overheat warning; smoke from engine bay; in extreme cases, engine bay fire.
The oil feed line to the turbocharger is prone to leaks. Oil starvation causes bearing damage in the turbo. Typical failure pattern: shaft seal failed, oil enters the intercooler.
Symptoms: Blue smoke on acceleration; oil film in intake tract or intercooler; increased oil consumption; power loss at higher revs.
Injectors on the 1.5 EcoBlue JTWA develop adaptation faults; fault codes for injection correction force expensive replacement of all injectors. Knock under part throttle is typical.
Symptoms: Loud diesel knock especially when warm; hesitation at part throttle; fault code for injection quantity deviation; power reduction.
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
Overflowing washer fluid damages the wiring harness beneath the reservoir. Consequences include engine stalling, AC failure and diagnostic faults. Repairing individual cables is cheaper than a full harness replacement.
The rear air conditioning in the Galaxy WA6 loses refrigerant at the expansion valve. Top-ups usually only provide a short-term fix. In documented cases the same system was repaired three times within the warranty period.
The dual-mass flywheel on the 1.8 TDCi and 2.0 TDCi in the Galaxy WA6 wears above average. The problem occurs early especially with short-trip and frequent stop-start use, with high repair costs since clutch and DMF are usually replaced together.
The Galaxy WA6 shows above-average corrosion on sills, wheel arches and underbody components. The factory sealant is insufficient especially on early models, allowing salt and moisture to penetrate cavities.
Galaxy WA6 owners report unusually high tyre wear with replacement needed as early as 20,000–23,000 km. Chassis wear and incorrect camber values are frequent causes.
The Ford Galaxy WA6 suffers from elevated parasitic drain that deep-discharges the battery after several days of standing. Faulty immobiliser modules and various control units can increase standby current draw. Multiple battery replacements within a short period is a typical complaint.
Tie rod ends, drop links and lower control arm bushings on the Galaxy WA6 wear above average. TÜV inspectors regularly flag chassis components. The heavy vehicle accelerates wear on steering joints.
Reports & Tests
1440 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2006–2015). Most reported: Steering (363), Electrical (331), Engine (166).