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CriticalCommonTransmission

Ford Territory: Transmission cooler failure and rusty cooler lines — coolant contamination (SX/SY)

Transmission cooler failure and rusty cooler lines — coolant contamination (SX/SY) is a common transmission fault on the Ford Territory on the 2004–2011 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $350 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 21 documented faults on the Ford Territory.

Vehicle
Ford Territory
Years
2004–2011
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
auto
System
Transmission

This page covers the Ford Territory as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ford Territory faults21 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Radiator yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The SX/SY Territory shares the Falcon's in-radiator transmission cooler, and the same failure mode: the cooler splits internally and coolant mixes with transmission fluid, wrecking the auto. Territorys also rust and weep at the external steel transmission cooler lines, dumping fluid and cooking the box. An external bypass cooler is the accepted permanent fix. A milkshaked transmission plus radiator commonly exceeds $4,500 — more than many SX/SYs are worth.

What you would notice

  • Pink milky residue in the coolant overflow bottle
  • Milky or burnt-smelling transmission fluid on the dipstick
  • Red fluid drips under the front of the car
  • Slipping or flaring shifts

How to check it

Where to look. Radiator bottom tank and the steel transmission cooler lines running to it, under the front of the vehicle

  1. Check the coolant bottle for milkiness and the transmission dipstick for clean red fluid.

  2. Look under the front bumper area for an aftermarket external transmission cooler and inspect the steel cooler lines along the chassis for rust and weeping.

  3. Ask if the radiator has been replaced.

Parts involved: Radiator.

What it costs to put right

$350 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has an external transmission cooler been fitted?”
  • “Have the transmission cooler lines or radiator ever been replaced?”
  • “When was the transmission fluid last serviced?”

Now check the Ford Territory you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • CarsGuide Territory/Falcon transmission cooler Q&As
  • Ford Australia Forums and Whirlpool Territory transmission cooler contamination threads

Ford Territory buyer questions

Is transmission cooler failure and rusty cooler lines — coolant contamination (sx/sy) serious on a Ford Territory?

We rate it critical and common on the Ford Territory. The SX/SY Territory shares the Falcon's in-radiator transmission cooler, and the same failure mode: the cooler splits internally and coolant mixes with transmission fluid, wrecking the auto. Territorys also rust and weep at the external steel transmission cooler lines, dumping fluid and cooking the box. An external bypass cooler is the accepted permanent fix. A milkshaked transmission plus radiator commonly exceeds $4,500 — more than many SX/SYs are worth.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ford Territory?

$350 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Ford Territory years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2004–2011 Ford Territory. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check the coolant bottle for milkiness and the transmission dipstick for clean red fluid. Look under the front bumper area for an aftermarket external transmission cooler and inspect the steel cooler lines along the chassis for rust and weeping. Ask if the radiator has been replaced. Look here: Radiator bottom tank and the steel transmission cooler lines running to it, under the front of the vehicle