Ford Transit years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

273,503 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2001–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Ford Transit years with MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year: 2003–2004 and 2007–2022. None is clearly above it. The other 4 years can't be told apart from average.

Below the average for their first-use year2003–2004 and 2007–2022
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from average2001–2002 and 2005–2006

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

62.3%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 62.1% to 62.5%.

Ford Transit, all years62.3%
Same-age average, all vehicles69.9%

In 2025, 62.3% of the 273,503 initial MOT tests on Ford Transit cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 69.9%. That is 7.6 points below the same-age average.

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Its own MOT history, free.

Ford Transit MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3	1,83137,100	82.9%±1.8	−5.6 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4	1,80248,900	80.5%±1.9	−6.7 ptsall: 87.2%
2020age 5	1,45960,700	77.5%±2.3	−8.5 ptsall: 86.0%
2019age 6	2,71471,200	75.1%±1.7	−8.4 ptsall: 83.5%
2018age 7	18,49886,900	71.1%±0.7	−9.8 ptsall: 80.9%
2017age 8	42,79895,500	67.5%±0.5	−10.7 ptsall: 78.2%
2016age 9	40,418104,800	67.4%±0.5	−7.5 ptsall: 74.9%
2015age 10	34,644115,200	65.8%±0.6	−6.1 ptsall: 71.9%
2014age 11	27,818123,300	64.2%±0.6	−4.4 ptsall: 68.6%
2013age 12	18,526128,100	55.8%±0.8	−10.0 ptsall: 65.8%
2012age 13	13,749135,000	51.2%±0.9	−12.3 ptsall: 63.5%
2011age 14	16,350142,300	51.4%±0.8	−9.8 ptsall: 61.2%
2010age 15	13,334145,500	51.5%±0.9	−7.8 ptsall: 59.3%
2009age 16	9,230142,700	52.6%±1.1	−5.7 ptsall: 58.3%
2008age 17	9,673139,200	53.9%±1.0	−3.3 ptsall: 57.2%
2007age 18	7,532138,600	56.0%±1.2	−1.4 ptsall: 57.4%
2006age 19	4,392128,800	58.4%±1.5	+1.4 ptsall: 57.0%
2005age 20	2,404113,900	55.8%±2.0	−1.8 ptsall: 57.6%
2004age 21	1,730106,500	54.7%±2.4	−3.1 ptsall: 57.8%
2003age 22	1,875122,400	56.2%±2.3	−2.5 ptsall: 58.7%
2002age 23	1,630116,500	57.9%±2.5	−1.6 ptsall: 59.5%
2001age 24	1,096113,400	59.9%±3.0	−1.2 ptsall: 61.1%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Common Transit problems at the MOT

Share of the 103,045 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics46.3%
Suspension35.0%
Body, chassis, structure31.1%
Brakes30.4%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors18.5%
Tyres13.4%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

What to check when viewing a Transit

Based on the areas where Ford Transit MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 46.3% of failed Transit tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Suspension
In 35.0% of failed Transit tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Body, chassis, structure
In 31.1% of failed Transit tests
- Look for rust or damage under the sills, around the wheel arches and on the floor where you can see it.
- Open and close every door, the bonnet and the boot. They should latch properly.
- Check the seats are secure and adjust properly.
Brakes
In 30.4% of failed Transit tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly. The car should stop in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a Transit's MOT history

Ford Transit questions

Which Ford Transit years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2003–2004 and 2007–2022. None is clearly above average. The rest can't be told apart from average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Ford Transit reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 62.3% of initial MOT tests on Ford Transit cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 69.9%. That is 7.6 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Ford Transit problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 46.3% of failed tests), suspension (in 35.0% of failed tests) and body, chassis, structure (in 31.1% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 10-year-old Ford Transit?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Ford Transit cars first used in 2015, about 10 years old, had a median of 115,200 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific Transit's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Ford Transit

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Ford models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 25 Ford models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Ford Transit cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count