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Ford Transit 280 SWB Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford Transit 280 SWB car check

Is the Ford Transit 280 SWB reliable? We analysed 687 real MOT tests across 490 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 687 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
60.0%
Typical Mileage
148,497mi
Annual Mileage
5,296mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Ford Transit 280 SWB is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Transit 280 SWB.

Ford Transit 280 SWB Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ford Transit 280 SWB. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ford Transit 280 SWB Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ford Transit 280 SWB owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,556 mi/yr
Typical
5,296 mi/yr
Average
7,557 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,861 mi/yr

Ford Transit 280 SWB Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ford Transit 280 SWB MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
148,497 mi
75th Percentile
171,886 mi
95th Percentile
216,860 mi
Max Recorded
789,888 mi

How Does the Ford Transit 280 SWB Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Transit 280 SWB THIS CAR 60.0% 687 148,497 mi — 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 Transit 68.7% 16,371,688 100,614 mi 37 yrs
Toyota Corolla Verso Sr D-4D 83.9% 1,196 137,822 mi — yrs

Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Transit 280 SWB trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Ford Transit 280 SWB 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 Transit 280 SWB

Should you buy a used Ford Transit 280 SWB?

The Ford Transit 280 SWB has an overall MOT pass rate of 60.0% across 687 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.

A typical Ford Transit 280 SWB owner drives around 5,296 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.

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.

Ford Transit 280 SWB — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Transit 280 SWB reliable?
Based on 687 MOT tests, the Ford Transit 280 SWB has a 60.0% pass rate — below average, so factor in potential repair costs.
What are the common problems on a Ford Transit 280 SWB?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Ford Transit 280 SWB do per year?
The typical Ford Transit 280 SWB does around 5,296 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Transit 280 SWB last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Transit 280 SWB?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.