CarVerify

Free Car Check

P138 VRE

1997 Ford Bongo

Silver Petrol 2500cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Oct 2026
Tests13 (10 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

83,894 mi
Last recorded83,894 miles
Recorded on15 Sep 2025
Typical for 1997 Ford Bongo136,092 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Ford
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationP138 VRE
MakeFord
ModelBongo
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,500cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

10 pass 3 fail
Pass 15 Sep 2025 83,894 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases flexy (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 16 Sep 2024 82,961 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2023 82,078 miles

Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both rear 'D' bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Sep 2022 81,062 miles
Pass 14 Oct 2021 80,307 miles
Fail 30 Sep 2021 80,306 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 28 Sep 2020 76,105 miles

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 24 Sep 2020 76,105 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 26 Sep 2019 74,103 miles
Fail 23 Aug 2019 74,096 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

Offside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

Offside Rear Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 10 Aug 2018 69,043 miles
Pass 5 Jul 2017 62,615 miles
Pass 2 Aug 2016 57,830 miles

How Reliable is the Ford Bongo?

Based on 4,842 MOT tests across 228 vehicles.

66.3%
Pass Rate
5,037
Miles/Year
31
Year Lifespan
228
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

fog lamp not working 159
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 143
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 132
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 125
Registration plate lamp not working 97
Full Ford Bongo reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P138 VRE is a 1997 Ford Bongo in Silver with a 2,500cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

Across all 1997 Ford Bongo models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.4% with a typical mileage of 136,092 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Ford Bongo fails its MOT is fog lamp not working, accounting for 159 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P138 VRE, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Ford Bongo typically stays on UK roads for around 31 years. At 29 years old, this Ford Bongo is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P138 VRE?

You can check the full history of P138 VRE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P138 VRE registered?

P138 VRE is a 1997 Ford Bongo, first registered on 1 February 1997.

Is P138 VRE safe to buy?

The MOT history for P138 VRE shows 13 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P138 VRE have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on P138 VRE. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.