checkdenwagen.de is an independent provider of on-site used-car inspections operating across Germany, based in Berlin with a network of inspectors throughout the country. The Ford used-car inspection centres on brand-specific knowledge of weak spots: Ford vehicles of the last 15 years have well-documented problem areas that stay invisible in the listing without targeted expertise. First and foremost the 1.0 EcoBoost three-cylinder — Ford's best-selling engine in the Fiesta and Focus — whose timing belt runs in an oil bath and is attacked by the oil if coolant leaks in. If coolant creeps into the oil circuit, the belt loses its bonding and breaks, which can end in total engine failure. On top of that comes the DPS6 PowerShift dual clutch, which has caused jerking, control-unit problems and clutch wear in the Fiesta and Focus and triggered class-action lawsuits worldwide. Our inspector examines your desired Ford on-site for about 1.5 hours against an inspection catalogue of 100+ points — with particular focus on engine, gearbox, cooling system, rust and electronics. You receive your report within 24 hours as a clear basis for your purchase decision or price negotiation.
Have a used Ford inspected: on-site used-car inspection, from €289
Ford builds popular everyday cars — from the Fiesta and Focus to the Kuga and Puma. But the popular 1.0 EcoBoost three-cylinder has a timing belt in an oil bath that suffers when coolant leaks in and, in the worst case, destroys the engine. The DPS6 PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox in the Fiesta and Focus is known for jerking and premature clutch wear. And older Ford models rust at the wheel arches and sills before you can see it on the paintwork. Our inspector comes straight to the vehicle, checks 100+ points with Ford-specific focal areas and delivers a digital photo report within 24 hours. Fixed price from €289 incl. VAT and travel.
Ford: character, reliability and the typical buyer
People's car with a strong brand core
Ford is one of the best-selling car manufacturers in Germany. The Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo have been bestsellers for decades — affordable to buy, widely available on the used market. It is precisely this popularity that means problem vehicles are often resold without disclosing known defects.
Reliability: heavily engine-dependent
Ford reliability varies considerably by engine and model year. In workshop practice the 1.0 EcoBoost is regarded as technically innovative but with a well-documented susceptibility to coolant-related engine damage. The DPS6 gearbox was so problematic that Ford had to set up warranty programmes and settlements worldwide. Older 1.6 EcoBoost engines have similar coolant problems.
Running costs: affordable, if nothing goes wrong
Ford spare parts and workshop costs are moderate — significantly cheaper than premium brands. That changes abruptly, however, when the EcoBoost engine needs a complete overhaul due to coolant damage or the PowerShift due to clutch failure. Costs of several thousand euros are then no rarity.
The typical used-car buyer and the risks
Used Fords appeal to budget-conscious buyers looking for a reliable everyday car. The risk lies in the fact that known problem models — especially the Fiesta and Focus with the 1.0 EcoBoost or DPS6 gearbox — are often offered without any reference to known weak spots. An independent inspection separates flawless examples from ticking time bombs.
Ford weak spots: what our inspection specifically examines
1.0 EcoBoost: timing belt in oil bath and coolant ingress
The 1.0 EcoBoost three-cylinder (Fiesta, Focus, Puma, C-Max, B-Max from around 2012) is Ford's best-selling engine and a design peculiarity: the timing belt runs in an oil bath, which is no problem in normal operation — but becomes fatal when coolant gets into the oil circuit. This fault arises from a faulty coolant hose in the intake snorkel or a leaking heat exchanger: the coolant mixes with the oil, attacks the timing belt and can cause it to break — resulting in engine damage. Ford revised the hose in later model years, but many older examples are still in circulation. Our inspector examines the coolant level, checks the oil for emulsion forming (milky discolouration), reads the fault memory for coolant-related codes and searches the engine bay specifically for moisture traces at the intake snorkel.
DPS6 PowerShift dual clutch (Fiesta, Focus)
The DPS6 dual-clutch gearbox was standard in the Fiesta (from 2008) and Focus (from 2011) — and is one of the best-known gearbox controversies of recent decades worldwide. Typical symptoms: jerking and shuddering when pulling away from a standstill, especially in traffic jams and city driving, delayed upshifts and intrusive creeping movements. Ford released several software updates that improve the behaviour but do not fully fix it. In severe cases the dry clutches wear prematurely — a repair costs several thousand euros. Our inspector tests the gearbox specifically in a city driving cycle for the characteristic jerking, reads the transmission control unit for stored fault codes and assesses clutch wear based on driving behaviour.
1.6 EcoBoost: coolant issue and cylinder head
The 1.6 EcoBoost (Focus, Kuga, C-Max, Grand C-Max, from around 2011) is also known for coolant loss and, as a result, cylinder-head damage. The cause often lies in excessive coolant pressure or a leaking cylinder-head gasket that lets coolant into the combustion chambers or the oil circuit. The result: overheating, white smoke from the exhaust, emulsion in the oil and, in the worst case, a cracked or warped cylinder head. Our inspector checks the coolant level, assesses the condition of the coolant, checks the oil for emulsion forming and evaluates the operating temperature via live OBD data.
Rust: wheel arches, sills, underbody (Focus, Mondeo, Fiesta)
Older Ford models — especially the second-generation Focus (DA3, from 2004), the Mondeo Mk4 (BA7, from 2007) and the Fiesta before 2008 — are known for rust at typical spots: rear wheel arches and sills often show bubbling or through-rust that works from the inside out and still looks harmless on superficial inspection. Underneath, sections of the chassis rails and suspension strut mounts are affected. Our inspector examines all known rust spots with a torch and mirror, puts the vehicle on the lift and documents findings in photos.
Water ingress: Kuga and Focus (front-passenger footwell, control unit)
The Ford Kuga (first generation, C394, from 2008) and Focus (DA3, from 2004) have a known weak spot: a blocked or poorly sealed drain opening below the windscreen lets rainwater run into the front-passenger footwell. The water collects under the carpet and damages not only the upholstery and insulation but, above all, the control units installed there — including the ABS and airbag unit. Once soaked, control units can corrode and produce intermittent faults that are hard to reproduce. Our inspector systematically feels the front-passenger footwell for moisture, checks for a musty smell and reads all control units for stored faults.
Control arms and drop links
Ford vehicles — especially the Focus and Mondeo — are known for wearing control-arm bushings and drop links. The rubber bushings of the front control arms are heavily stressed by road impacts and wear out earlier than expected depending on driving profile and road condition. Typical symptoms: knocking or rattling when driving slowly over bumps, wandering in the lane and uneven tyre wear. Anti-roll-bar drop links are another typical finding. Our inspector examines the suspension on the lift, checks all pivot points with a shake test and assesses the driving behaviour on the test drive.
DPF and EGR valve on the TDCi diesel
Ford TDCi diesel engines (1.5, 1.6, 2.0 TDCi in the Focus, Mondeo, Kuga, C-Max) are prone to clogged diesel particulate filters and gummed-up EGR valves in short-trip use. A clogged DPF shows itself through power loss, increased consumption and frequent regeneration cycles — a gummed-up EGR valve through jerking, poor cold-running behaviour and black smoke. Our inspector reads the DPF loading status and EGR fault codes from the engine control unit, evaluates the service history for DPF replacements or cleanings and checks the smoke behaviour under load.
Ignition-coil failure (EcoBoost petrol)
On several EcoBoost petrol variants — especially the 1.0 and 1.6 EcoBoost — faulty ignition coils are a known problem. Typical symptoms: cylinder misfires, heavy jerking when cold or under load changes, increased fuel consumption and the engine warning light. Individual ignition coils or a whole set can fail. The repair is relatively cheap if the problem is caught early — left untreated, persistent catalytic-converter damage can occur from unburnt fuel. Our inspector reads misfire fault codes for all cylinders from the engine control unit and tests the running behaviour specifically on a cold start and under load.
Air-conditioning compressor and cooling-system hoses
The air-conditioning compressor is a frequent wear item on higher-mileage Ford vehicles — especially in cars that were rarely driven with the air conditioning switched on. In addition, coolant hoses and expansion tanks age at different rates depending on the model year. On the 1.0 EcoBoost the coolant intake snorkel is a known weak spot that leads to coolant loss and the belt damage described above when it cracks. Our inspector checks the air-conditioning performance, listens to the compressor for rattling and bearing play, and examines all coolant hoses and the expansion tank for cracks and leaks.
Know the weak spots — ready to get your Ford inspected?
Fixed price from 289 €, on-site appointment within a few days. We coordinate everything with the seller.
Frequently inspected Ford models at checkdenwagen.de
Most often our customers commission the Ford used-car inspection for vehicles in the Focus range — Germany's best-selling Ford and accordingly plentiful on the used market, with a long history of different engines and gearboxes. Next comes the Fiesta, produced for decades as the entry-level model and, depending on the year, fitted either with the classic automatic gearbox or the problematic DPS6. The Kuga is especially popular as a compact SUV — here our customers specifically ask about water ingress and 1.6 EcoBoost engine history. The Puma (from 2019), a newer model, comes with the 1.0 EcoBoost and is an increasingly frequent inspection request, above all because of the timing-belt-in-oil-bath issue. The Mondeo — in its fourth generation (BA7) and as the predecessor model — has its own rust and suspension issues and is regularly requested. Whatever the model: our inspector knows the generation-specific quirks and checks the right points.
How your Ford inspection works — in three steps
Book online — in five minutes
Enter the vehicle location (postcode) and the listing link. Travel is included in the fixed price — no hidden costs. No phone call needed, no form chaos. The booking system also shows you whether your vehicle calls for Standard or Premium.
Inspector drives straight to the Ford
An experienced vehicle appraiser from our nationwide network coordinates the appointment directly with the seller. They inspect on-site for about 1.5 hours: engine start and cold-running behaviour (EcoBoost coolant, timing-belt oil bath), OBD readout of all control units, paint-thickness measurement, moisture check in the interior, suspension inspection and a test drive with a DPS6 gearbox test. You don't have to be there.
Digital report within 24 hours
You receive the complete inspection report by email: all findings documented in photos, OBD codes explained, paint-layer thicknesses as a heatmap, an overall rating for each inspection category. Clearly structured, without jargon — ready to use in negotiations or as grounds for walking away from the purchase.
Which package suits your Ford?
Standard Check
Travel included
- Certified experts
- Engine check
- Transmission check
- OBD fault readout
- Brake inspection
- Paint thickness measurement
- Accident check
- Visual bodywork inspection
- Tire tread check
- Visual interior inspection
- Electronics function test
- Vehicle document check
- Photo documentation
- Seller rating
- Market price assessment
- Vehicle price comparison
- Repair cost estimate
- VIN lookup
Premium Check
Travel included
- Certified experts
- Engine check
- Transmission check
- OBD fault readout
- Brake inspection
- Paint thickness measurement
- Accident check
- Visual bodywork inspection
- Tire tread check
- Visual interior inspection
- Electronics function test
- Vehicle document check
- Photo documentation
- Seller rating
- Market price assessment
- Vehicle price comparison
- Repair cost estimate
- VIN lookup
- Everything in Standard plus market value, repair cost estimate, seller rating & VIN lookup.
Unsure which package suits your Ford? Call us — we'll advise you free of charge: 030 301 32 327.
What our customers say
“I had my 5 Series inspected before buying — the report was very detailed and made my purchase decision so much easier.”
Emre E.
Berlin
“When the vehicle wasn't available for the viewing after all, the refund was completely hassle-free. Very fair and transparent.”
Bartosz K.
Hamburg
“The Premium package gave me a clear overview of the expected repair and maintenance costs. Exactly what I needed.”
Amir O.
Munich
“Excellent knowledge of the German car market, the dealer landscape and price ranges. Highly recommended.”
Denis B.
Cologne
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Learn moreFrequently asked questions about the Ford used-car inspection
The Ford used-car inspection starts at €289 for the Standard package and €339 for the Premium package — each incl. VAT. Travel is included in the fixed price — no hidden costs. No hourly rate, no fine print.
Buy your Ford on facts, not gut feeling.
An EcoBoost engine failure from coolant ingress, a DPS6 clutch defect or rust in the sill can quickly cost more than your entire price negotiation could ever save. Our Ford inspection gives you the facts — within 24 hours, from €289 incl. VAT and travel.