Ford Transit Custom common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Ford Transit Custom at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 104,523 UK MOT tests of the Ford Transit Custom in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material): recorded on 3.1% of tests of 2016–2018 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 5.2× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: brake pads (wearing thin) (3.2×); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) (2.7×); headlamp (not working on dipped beam) (2.8×). The most common reasons a Ford Transit Custom fails its MOT are wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick); headlamp (not working on dipped beam).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Ford Transit Custom
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Ford Transit Custom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | Advisory | 2016–2018 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 3.1% | 0.6% | 5.2× | 7,334 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | Advisory | 2020–2022 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 4.2% | 1.3% | 3.2× | 3,774 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 5.3% | 2% | 2.7× | 19,608 |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 5.4% | 1.9% | 2.8× | 4,772 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | MOT fail | 2018–2020 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 5.5% | 1.9% | 2.9× | 668 |
| Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | Advisory | 2018–2020 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 4.3% | 1.6% | 2.7× | 946 |
| Headlamp aim: too high | MOT fail | 2020–2022 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 3.6% | 1.4% | 2.6× | 615 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | MOT fail | 2017–2019 | 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 5.2% | 2.3% | 2.3× | 899 |
Ford Transit Custom by mileage (2018–2020 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) | 6,201 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.8%) | Brake pads: wearing thin (4.4%, 2.8×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 26,041 | Brake pads: wearing thin (12%) | Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (5.2%, 2.4×) |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 28,989 | Brake pads: wearing thin (12%) | Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (5.6%, 2.3×) |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 20,578 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (12%) | Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (5%, 2.1×) |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 11,465 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13%) | Headlamp: not working on dipped beam (4.3%, 2.3×) |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 5,347 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13%) | Headlamp: not working on dipped beam (5.3%, 2.5×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 2,392 | Brake pads: wearing thin (12%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (4.3%, 5.4×) |
| 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 946 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (4.1%, 5.1×) |
| 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 668 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (13%) | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material (4.9%, 5.4×) |
Ford Transit Custom by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 232 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (5.2×) |
| 2018 | 27,959 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (5.1×) |
| 2019 | 42,297 | Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (5.4×) |
| 2020 | 32,371 | Headlamp: not working on dipped beam at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (3.1×) |
| 2021 | 947 | Brake pads: wearing thin at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (3.2×) |
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 Custom?
In 104,523 UK MOT tests of the Ford Transit Custom in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material): recorded on 3.1% of tests of 2016–2018 cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km), 5.2× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: brake pads (wearing thin) (3.2×); wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) (2.7×); headlamp (not working on dipped beam) (2.8×). The most common reasons a Ford Transit Custom fails its MOT are wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively); brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick); headlamp (not working on dipped beam).
Why do Ford Transit Customs fail the MOT?
Across 104,523 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Ford Transit Custom were wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) (5% of tests); brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) (3.1% of tests); headlamp (not working on dipped beam) (3.8% of tests).
At what mileage do Ford Transit Custom problems start?
The clearest Ford Transit Custom-specific issue, rigid brake pipes (corroded, covered in grease or other material), peaks against other cars at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) on 2016–2018 cars (3.1% of tests vs 0.6% for all cars that age).
Where does this Ford Transit Custom data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 104,523 tests of the Ford Transit Custom. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.