Ford Transit (2006 – 2014) Review

Ford Transit (2006 – 2014) At A Glance

4/5

+The most popular van in the UK, superb in-cab refinement, tight turning circle and impressive handling, huge choice means there's something to suit all needs, ESP standard.

-Load bay not as big as some rivals, curious that speed limiter can be switched off, some interior plastics feel flimsy.

Backbone of Britain, best selling van for more than 40 years, a byword for light commercial vehicles. Call it what you like, the Ford Transit is the van by which all others are judged. Just when it looked like the competition was nipping at heels at the end of 2011, Ford pulled a blinder by launched the Euro 5-compliant model, which features a 2.2-litre turbodiesel in various power offerings that replaces all previous engine choices.

At a stroke, Ford put itself back at the head of the class and it also took the chance to address criticisms of in-cab noise. The Transit is now easily one of the most refined vans to drive and it also features a superb gear shift for its standard six-speed manual gearbox.

The rest of the Transit is much as it was when launched in 2006, which means rugged mechanical parts and strong reliability. There are also good deals to be had from Ford dealers.

All of this makes the Transit a very sound choice for any owner operator, but it gets better still when you know every Transit comes with ESP traction control as standard.

Then there’s the choice of front, rear and four-wheel drive, short and long wheelbases, different body lengths, various roof heights and a number of off-the-shelf body configurations from Ford. If there isn’t a Transit that suits you business’ needs, the chances are you either don’t need a van or should be buying a much heavier vehicle.

Ask Honest John

My Ford's SYNC 3 system has stopped working, what could be the cause?

"I can't turn on the radio or adjust the in my Ford Transit as the audio button on the touch screen is greyed out. It did it once before and was advised to take the positive lead off the battery and put it back on. That worked the first time (8 months ago) but I have tried it this time and it wont work."
This issue could be caused by a number of faults within the system, including a key that needs reprogramming, a software update or a physical fault within the system itself. We would suggest taking your Transit to an independent Ford specialist or in-car audio specialist, who should be able to perform a diagnostic check to get to the cause of the problem. If the hardware is at fault, it may be easier to find a used replacement system than having the original one repaired.
Answered by David Ross

Should I buy an ex-highway maintenance van?

"Could buying a low mileage, ex highway maintenance vehicle, be a good buy? It’s a 2008 Ford Transit, high top, medium wheel base that’s done 77,000 miles."
That would suggest the van has been used for around 5,500 miles per year or it has spent a number of years off the road. Either way, I would be cautious and (unless it is very cheap) suggest getting a mechanical inspection. Vans are designed to cover 200k+ miles over six or seven years before being scrapped. There are some excellent and older vans on the road, but they do tend to suffer from a range of age-related problems that make them very expensive to maintain.
Answered by Dan Powell

Why is my van door locked shut?

"The passenger door on my 2006 Ford Transit has locked and will not open. What's the issue?"
Reads like a faulty lock servo. It may be possible to fix it by driving out any internal moisture with WD40. But given the age of the van, I imagine the servo is worn out and needs to be replaced.
Answered by Dan Powell

Will the engine be a concern on a van with over 220,000 miles?

"I'm currently looking for a van to convert into a camper. It will be my first time doing woodwork, electrics etc so it will likely serve as a bit of a learning experience. I'll look to make use of the van for about three years before probably trying it again with more attention to detail on a nicer van. Right now though, I'm just looking for a cheap old runner. I've found a nice looking high roof 2008 Ford Transit with security locks and a roof rack for £1800 and I don't mind shelling out a fair bit more at a garage if the odd problem comes up as it's so cheap to start with. It has 223,000 miles on the clock. The main concern I have though is engine health - it's been flagged on its previous MOT as the engine indicator light being the cause of a failure (with a subsequent pass the next day). Is paying for a basic vehicle check from the RAC a good way of getting reassurance on something like this? Is that a reliable way of sussing out future problems?"
The engine's approaching the end of its mechanical life. Most 12-year-old Transit vans with this type of mileage will be ripe for scrap or spares and repair. If you want a cheap van for a year or two motoring it may be fine. But I would say it's a case of when and not if the engine will give you a long list of expensive problems.
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

What does a Ford Transit (2006 – 2014) cost?