Ford Transit common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Ford Transit at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 338,454 UK MOT tests of the Ford Transit in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is pipes and hoses (slightly corroded): recorded on 4.8% of tests of 2008–2010 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 48× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material) (19×); component mounting prescribed areas (prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength) (11×); registration plate lamp(s) (inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps) (13×). The most common reasons a Ford Transit fails its MOT are joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt); position lamp (not working); component mounting prescribed areas (prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Ford Transit
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Ford Transit than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded | Advisory | 2008–2010 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 4.8% | 0.1% | 48× | 1,427 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | Advisory | 2017–2019 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 5.8% | 0.3% | 19× | 17,751 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | MOT fail | 2008–2010 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 9.8% | 0.9% | 11× | 5,898 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | MOT fail | 2011–2013 | 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 3.8% | 0.3% | 13× | 869 |
| Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | MOT fail | 2015–2017 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 4.3% | 0.5% | 8.6× | 20,533 |
| Integral vehicle structure condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced | Advisory | 2006–2008 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 9.2% | 1.1% | 8.4× | 4,285 |
| Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced | Advisory | 2004–2006 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 11% | 1.3% | 8.8× | 1,493 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | MOT fail | 2008–2010 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 6.2% | 1.1% | 5.6× | 2,307 |
Ford Transit by mileage (2015–2017 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 1,300 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (7.8%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (3.2%, 8×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 8,337 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (11%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (6.1%, 8.7×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 20,533 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (13%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (8.4%, 9.3×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 27,524 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (14%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (10%, 9.5×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 26,284 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (16%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (12%, 8.3×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 19,721 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (17%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (13%, 7.5×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 12,748 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (18%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (13%, 6.7×) |
| 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 7,277 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (18%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (14%, 6.5×) |
| 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 7,959 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (19%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (16%, 7.2×) |
Ford Transit by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 679 | Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (2.6×) |
| 1996 | 805 | Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (2.6×) |
| 1997 | 835 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (3.3×) |
| 1998 | 921 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (3.6×) |
| 1999 | 1,007 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (3.5×) |
| 2000 | 1,135 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (4.2×) |
| 2001 | 1,523 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (4.9×) |
| 2002 | 2,368 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) (5.3×) |
| 2003 | 2,743 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (6×) |
| 2004 | 2,491 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (7.1×) |
| 2005 | 3,528 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (8.8×) |
| 2006 | 6,847 | Chassis condition: is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (8.3×) |
| 2007 | 11,809 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (15×) |
| 2008 | 14,487 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (26×) |
| 2009 | 12,366 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (48×) |
| 2010 | 17,449 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (37×) |
| 2011 | 20,302 | Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (32×) |
| 2012 | 16,287 | Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (13×) |
| 2013 | 20,771 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (8.4×) |
| 2014 | 30,335 | Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (8.3×) |
| 2015 | 39,384 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (8.5×) |
| 2016 | 44,314 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (9.5×) |
| 2017 | 47,985 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (12×) |
| 2018 | 23,631 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (19×) |
| 2019 | 7,425 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (19×) |
| 2020 | 4,864 | Stop lamp: not working at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (3.9×) |
| 2021 | 268 | Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (4×) |
| 2022 | 295 | Nothing stands out |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Ford Transit?
In 338,454 UK MOT tests of the Ford Transit in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is pipes and hoses (slightly corroded): recorded on 4.8% of tests of 2008–2010 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 48× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material) (19×); component mounting prescribed areas (prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength) (11×); registration plate lamp(s) (inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps) (13×). The most common reasons a Ford Transit fails its MOT are joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt); position lamp (not working); component mounting prescribed areas (prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength).
Why do Ford Transits fail the MOT?
Across 338,454 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Ford Transit were joints (constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt) (7% of tests); position lamp (not working) (9.9% of tests); component mounting prescribed areas (prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength) (11% of tests).
At what mileage do Ford Transit problems start?
The clearest Ford Transit-specific issue, pipes and hoses (slightly corroded), peaks against other cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) on 2008–2010 cars (4.8% of tests vs 0.1% for all cars that age).
Where does this Ford Transit data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 338,454 tests of the Ford Transit. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.