Ford Transit Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Ford Transit car check
Is the Ford Transit reliable? We analysed 16,371,688 real MOT tests across 1,454,648 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Ford Transit? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Ford Transit is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include registration plate lamp not working, brake pipe excessively corroded and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Transit.
Ford Transit Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Ford Transit. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Ford Transit MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Ford Transit to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Ford Transit Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Ford Transit fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Ford Transit Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Ford Transit owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Ford Transit MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Transit year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 112 | 87.5% | 8,696 | 20,871 | 30,735 |
| 2023 | 7,247 | 79.8% | 32,258 | 49,270 | 69,362 |
| 2022 | 29,239 | 80.1% | 32,782 | 50,102 | 70,751 |
| 2021 | 1,776 | 82.0% | 17,530 | 38,219 | 67,351 |
| 2020 | 5,129 | 84.9% | 17,699 | 39,498 | 68,402 |
| 2019 | 121,943 | 79.1% | 41,548 | 64,867 | 94,082 |
| 2018 | 339,467 | 79.4% | 45,105 | 69,531 | 99,481 |
| 2017 | 606,956 | 79.7% | 48,850 | 73,664 | 104,160 |
| 2016 | 670,962 | 78.8% | 51,394 | 78,626 | 112,044 |
| 2015 | 668,401 | 77.7% | 56,440 | 85,659 | 120,471 |
| 2014 | 631,028 | 75.6% | 60,355 | 90,771 | 126,268 |
| 2013 | 660,410 | 69.8% | 60,530 | 92,469 | 129,679 |
| 2012 | 650,402 | 67.9% | 64,439 | 98,194 | 136,373 |
| 2011 | 790,100 | 68.2% | 70,127 | 106,070 | 146,431 |
| 2010 | 725,782 | 68.2% | 70,126 | 107,575 | 149,360 |
| 2009 | 621,380 | 68.0% | 66,269 | 105,186 | 147,757 |
| 2008 | 951,560 | 67.3% | 67,810 | 105,466 | 146,994 |
| 2007 | 998,009 | 67.4% | 69,810 | 106,431 | 146,375 |
| 2006 | 911,746 | 67.3% | 69,051 | 103,774 | 142,546 |
| 2005 | 833,959 | 67.5% | 67,009 | 101,296 | 139,841 |
How Long Does a Ford Transit Last?
Based on 1,454,648 Ford Transit vehicles on UK roads.
Ford Transit Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Ford Transit MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Transit
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.5% MOT pass rate from 112 tests
60.1% MOT pass rate from 86,711 tests
The best year to buy a used Ford Transit is 2024, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.5% across 112 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Ford Transit Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Transit THIS CAR | 68.7% | 16,371,688 | 100,614 mi | 37 yrs |
| Ford Fiesta | 72.8% | 33,753,820 | 57,529 mi | 34 yrs |
| Ford Focus | 73.8% | 28,316,889 | 72,500 mi | 27 yrs |
| Ford Mondeo | 70.1% | 12,239,875 | 94,838 mi | 33 yrs |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 69.7% | 26,893,546 | 58,908 mi | 33 yrs |
Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Transit trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Ford Transit you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Ford TransitShould you buy a used Ford Transit?
The Ford Transit has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.7% across 16,371,688 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Ford Transit are registration plate lamp not working (551,926 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (469,823), and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (469,369). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Ford Transit owner drives around 7,998 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Ford Transit models stay on UK roads for around 37 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.