Ford Transit Custom: what fails at MOT
219,000 MOT tests on the Ford Transit Custom in 2024, counted. 20.9% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
20.9% of Ford Transit Custom tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 12.8%, so the Transit Custom does worse than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (5.8% of tests), wipers, washers and windscreen (4.9% of tests) and brakes (3.3% of tests). It fails on lights and electrics, wipers, washers and windscreen and brakes more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58,296 | 22.1% | 10.9% | 43,700 29,600 to 60,500 |
| 2020 | 49,416 | 19.9% | 11.5% | 53,200 36,500 to 74,000 |
| 2019 | 65,924 | 19.9% | 13.4% | 65,100 45,600 to 89,500 |
| 2018 | 43,568 | 21.5% | 15.6% | 77,200 56,300 to 102,200 |
| 2017 | 348 | 36.2% | 18.2% | 83,900 61,100 to 115,700 |
| 2016 | 453 | 30.9% | 21.3% | 95,300 72,200 to 128,500 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Ford Transit Custom tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Transit Custom | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 5.8% | 2.1% | More than most |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 4.9% | 1.9% | More than most |
| Brakes | 3.3% | 1.5% | More than most |
| Tyres | 3.3% | 3.1% | |
| Body and structure | 1.1% | 0.3% | More than most |
| Exhaust and emissions | 0.8% | 0.5% | |
| Suspension | 0.6% | 0.8% |
The parts that fail most
- Wipers3.2%
- Seat belt2.5%
- Brake pads2.2%
- Headlamp aim1.9%
- Headlamp1.8%
- Washers1.4%
- Tyre tread1.0%
- Number plate light0.9%
- Driveshaft joint0.8%
- Brake light0.8%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.1%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.6%
- Tyre: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.1%
- Headlamp aim: too high1.0%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm0.9%
- Driveshaft joint: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.8%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.7%
- Brake light: not working0.7%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.7%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge8.1%
- Brake pads: wearing thin7.0%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.1%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing3.1%
- Brake discs: worn, but not excessively2.3%
- Brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material1.6%
- Nail in tyre1.6%
- Tyre: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.2%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “Is there any corrosion underneath or around the sills and arches?”
Check a Ford Transit Custom's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.