Thread: Known faults with Ford Territory's?

Sadly my wife has her eye on a 2005 ford territory 4wd.

Before she decides to buy it are there any well known faults with these? I imagine they're thirsty tanks.

We've only got two kids and no boat or horse float, I've tried using reason but what reasonable argument will work on a unreasonable wife?

@Tommy

this forums not big enough bro

Jesus where do you start?

-Steering rack literally break.
-Rust, soooo much rust.
-Diff mount bushes, shock bushes etc etc
-Transmissions have issues aplenty
-Cat converters snap and cost ~$800 to replace
-All the plastic hatches etc break with a sharp glance
-Switches (window locks etc)
-Door catches fail with boring regularity.
-Ignition barrels fall apart
-Rust
-Power steering pumps fail
-Lots of leaks from high pressure power steer units.
-Trans coolers fail and fill the trans with coolant
-Starter motors
-Did I mention rust?

Territories are a flipping great earner, my boss loves them.

A much shorter list would be what's right with them (ie the motors are a-ok if a little thirsty)

Try a Highlander (although a bit dearer), later Rav, maybe an Outlander, the Grand Vitara seems pretty good so far. A Santa Fe diesel turbo would be my pick in an SUV shape, pretty easy on fuel compared to all the petrols, go like the clappers, and pretty decent parts support.. A 3.0 Subaru Outback for a wagon, but not the Tribeca, have had fun getting bits like lights etc, just didn't sell in enough numbers to have a healthy 2nd hand parts supply.

Avoid Xtrails and other Nissans (tainted with shite Euro DNA these days).

They are very thirsty

It's a ford, is that not enough of a fault?

Nah Outlander or Highlander bro - territory's are a money pit!! Santa Fe hard to find but if you get one good on ya.
Outback 3.0 great - but also a little thirsty...

So my moneys on the first option and you can buy e'm pretty cheap Highlander a bit more but a good wee bus a bit more thirsty by about 20-30% after riding in Rushy's to Wairoa and back...

Oh and it'll go up the hill at Brads place with Townie tires when Happy's hilux didn't...

Cheers for the responses, I think I'll veto this one.

For some reason she thinks we need a 7 seater.

Originally Posted by Savage1

Cheers for the responses, I think I'll veto this one.

For some reason she thinks we need a 7 seater.

If she has that glint in her eye, RUN!

RUC's have pretty much killed the benefits of diesel.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

If she has that glint in her eye, RUN!

RUC's have pretty much killed the benefits of diesel.

If you use a fuel card it works out ok, i am paying about 93 cents a litre at moment.
nearly 40 cents a litre cheaper than pump. although you can only use this card at caltex fuel stop (self service)
but there are a shit load of them around the country. easy enough to apply for one of these cards on line.

Originally Posted by HUNTY

If you use a fuel card it works out ok, i am paying about 93 cents a litre at moment.
nearly 40 cents a litre cheaper than pump. although you can only use this card at caltex fuel stop (self service)
but there are a shit load of them around the country. easy enough to apply for one of these cards on line.

And if you have a vehicle that does 8.6l/100km (a thumping great Mercedes Sprinter with 12 passengers) that is $80/1000km. The lowest RUC category is $63/1000km on top of that.

Originally Posted by Savage1

Cheers for the responses, I think I'll veto this one.

For some reason she thinks we need a 7 seater.

Tell her the cool mums are all downsizing, send her down to see Kirst's new car!


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The wife just got a 2012 Santa Fe, the R series diesel is pretty grunty. Earlier ones are OK but the R series is the one. Not really cheap to buy though.... but we really needed 7 seats I am told. Step up from my POS Freelander haha... not sure if I will be allowed to get the Santa Fe dirty though....

Originally Posted by GMH72

The wife just got a 2012 Santa Fe, the R series diesel is pretty grunty. Earlier ones are OK but the R series is the one. Not really cheap to buy though.... but we really needed 7 seats I am told. Step up from my POS Freelander haha... not sure if I will be allowed to get the Santa Fe dirty though....

Not sure if this is a widespread problem with Santa Fe, but I know of 2 people who have had their automatics go bang, for no apparent reason, and with no warning. Approx $10k to repair. Both vehicles had done around 150 km and didn't have a towbar. These were 2008 & 2009 models. Could be isolated events, because I know a lot of people with them and love them, but also flick them off around the 90km mark. Local stock agent also has them, so they're guaranteed to have been raced,rallied and possibly rolled at some stage

Originally Posted by oraki

Not sure if this is a widespread problem with Santa Fe, but I know of 2 people who have had their automatics go bang, for no apparent reason, and with no warning. Approx $10k to repair. Both vehicles had done around 150 km and didn't have a towbar. These were 2008 & 2009 models. Could be isolated events, because I know a lot of people with them and love them, but also flick them off around the 90km mark. Local stock agent also has them, so they're guaranteed to have been raced,rallied and possibly rolled at some stage

Ours has done over 100,0000 we got a warranty and a free service plan so will be OK for at least three years... hopefully. I heard turbos with these ones, could be wrong info though. Heard a lot of different stories about different makes and models, these days there seems to be something either minor, or major wrong with every vehicle.

7 seats must be a wife thing... we only have two kids