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Ford Transit Connect Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Ford Transit Connect reliable? We analysed 3,622,068 real MOT tests across 283,952 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,622,068 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.3%
Typical Mileage
93,656mi
Annual Mileage
7,948mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
24yrs

The Ford Transit Connect is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include registration plate lamp not working, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Transit Connect.

Ford Transit Connect Number Plates

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

Ford Transit Connect MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ford Transit Connect to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

82.7%
2023
82.9%
2022
83%
2021
80.1%
2020
78.8%
2019
80.8%
2018
81.7%
2017
80%
2016
79.2%
2015
78.1%
2014
74.2%
2013
71.6%
2012
69.2%
2011
68.1%
2010
68.1%
2009
67.5%
2008
66.8%
2007
66.9%
2006
66.7%
2005
66.1%
2004

Ford Transit Connect Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ford Transit Connect fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Registration plate lamp not working 121,813
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 105,772
Stop lamp not working 69,148
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 67,188
Brake pipe excessively corroded 66,256
position lamp(s) not working 50,912
constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc 37,493

Ford Transit Connect Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Ford Transit Connect models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 58,526

Ford Transit Connect Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,631 mi/yr
Typical
7,948 mi/yr
Average
9,646 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,656 mi/yr

Ford Transit Connect MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Transit Connect year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 300 82.7% 29,852 43,116 61,284
2022 4,645 82.9% 29,342 45,158 64,206
2021 30,673 83.0% 34,276 50,774 71,107
2020 46,133 80.1% 34,466 53,692 77,652
2019 81,703 78.8% 38,260 58,167 82,849
2018 110,596 80.8% 42,866 65,149 92,784
2017 148,082 81.7% 47,620 71,542 99,978
2016 131,325 80.0% 52,309 78,970 109,576
2015 142,746 79.2% 54,879 82,537 115,059
2014 130,784 78.1% 59,115 88,464 122,337
2013 66,663 74.2% 56,452 84,532 116,473
2012 102,907 71.6% 58,685 87,423 118,572
2011 118,405 69.2% 63,219 94,389 128,273
2010 120,664 68.1% 65,528 98,497 133,022
2009 143,734 68.1% 61,547 94,095 128,122
2008 255,031 67.5% 67,908 101,348 137,490
2007 351,033 66.8% 70,837 104,330 140,044
2006 414,229 66.9% 67,402 99,727 135,039
2005 391,345 66.7% 69,491 102,650 137,864
2004 419,718 66.1% 68,998 102,366 137,770

How Long Does a Ford Transit Connect Last?

Based on 283,952 Ford Transit Connect vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.9 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
24 years

Ford Transit Connect Mileage Distribution

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

Median
93,656 mi
75th Percentile
129,584 mi
95th Percentile
184,484 mi
Max Recorded
1,851,493 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Transit Connect

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2021

83.0% MOT pass rate from 30,673 tests

Year to avoid
2004

66.1% MOT pass rate from 419,718 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Transit Connect is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.0% across 30,673 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.1% — 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 Connect Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Transit Connect THIS CAR 70.3% 3,622,068 93,656 mi 24 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
Volkswagen Beetle 71.7% 1,719,137 66,233 mi 56 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Ford Transit Connect?

The Ford Transit Connect has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.3% across 3,622,068 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Ford Transit Connect are registration plate lamp not working (121,813 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (105,772), and stop lamp not working (69,148). 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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Ford Transit Connect with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Ford Transit Connect owner drives around 7,948 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 Connect models stay on UK roads for around 24 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.

Ford Transit Connect — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Transit Connect reliable?
Based on 3,622,068 MOT tests, the Ford Transit Connect has a 70.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Ford Transit Connect?
The most common MOT failures are registration plate lamp not working, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford Transit Connect do per year?
The typical Ford Transit Connect does around 7,948 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Transit Connect last?
Most Ford Transit Connect models stay on UK roads for around 24 years based on our analysis of 283,952 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Transit Connect?
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.
What is the best year to buy a Ford Transit Connect?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Transit Connect is 2021 with a 83.0% pass rate across 30,673 tests.