2009 Ford Transit 2.4L Diesel · FE09 CWM

A pattern of developing front-end wear has begun to surface on this Transit, most clearly signalled by its November 2025 test outcome where, despite ultimately passing, the vehicle carried a concurrent failure record on the same date for the same set of advisories. This duplication typically indicates a presentation at test, an early failure on certain items, followed by on-site rectification and a subsequent pass once those defects were addressed. The flagged items themselves are characteristic of a working van reaching maturity: nearside and offside front brake pipes showing corrosion concealed under a coating of grease or similar material, a nearside front suspension arm pin or bush displaying wear without yet exceeding the excessive movement threshold, an offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit and showing edge wear, and a minor defect noted for the windscreen wiper blade. Three consecutive clean passes from 2022 through 2024 suggest the chassis and structural components have remained sound up to this point, but the sudden cluster of advisories at the most recent test warrants close attention to whether 2026 will bring escalation into outright failures on the brake pipes or suspension linkage. With 86,764 miles accumulated over seventeen years, this Transit has averaged around 5,100 miles annually, which is considerably below typical working-van usage and could reflect either a light commercial role, extended periods of standing, or a more recent transition into private or part-time use. Continuous annual testing since at least 2022, with no recorded gaps, suggests the vehicle has remained in regular service rather than being laid up for any significant duration, which is reassuring for components such as the clutch, brakes, and rubber seals that suffer when left stationary. However, the relatively modest mileage means wear items like the brake discs, suspension bushes, and engine mounts may still hold useful service life, yet it is precisely the underbody and corrosion-prone components that have begun to demand scrutiny given the front brake pipe advisories now appearing. Any prospective buyer should therefore not be lulled into a false sense of security by the low odometer reading alone, as corrosion on a seventeen-year-old commercial vehicle can advance independently of mileage. Focusing on the components actually flagged, the brake pipes are the most pressing concern. Corrosion concealed beneath a grease coating is a classic interim repair technique used to pass an MOT when the pipe is not yet perforated but shows surface degradation, and it tends only to delay rather than resolve the underlying issue. During a test drive, the buyer should listen for any sharp metallic scraping or squealing from the front wheels on light braking, feel for a soft or spongy pedal that suggests fluid weeping past a compromised seal, and physically inspect the pipes along their full run from the master cylinder to the calipers for any bubbling, flaking, or fresh rust bleeding through the grease. Replacement of front brake pipes on a Transit is a relatively straightforward but essential job, and any sign of active leakage should be treated as a priority item before further road use. The suspension arm bush wear and the tyre edge wear should also be evaluated together, as both are consistent with a vehicle that has spent significant time carrying weight on the front axle, even at modest mileages. On a test drive, pay particular attention to clonks, knocks, or shuffling sensations transmitted through the steering when traversing speed bumps, potholes, or undulating surfaces, as a worn arm pin or bush will typically announce itself as a distinctive slack or delay before the wheel responds to steering input. Combined with the offside front tyre being close to the legal limit and worn on its edge, there may also be evidence of geometry misalignment, so the vehicle should be driven in a straight line at motorway speeds to check for any steering pull to one side, and the inner and outer edges of the front tyres should be compared for uneven shoulder wear. Finally, the minor wiper blade defect is a trivial replacement item, but inspecting the windscreen for pitting or stone chips and confirming the washers operate correctly will complete a sensible pre-purchase assessment of this otherwise serviceable but ageing Transit.