2019 Ford Transit 290 Ecoblue — MOT failures & pass rate
590 MOT tests on the 2019 Ford Transit 290 Ecoblue are in this dataset, and 84.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), the 2019 Transit 290 Ecoblue comes out 5.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests against 5.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, side repeaters and joints — brake pads alone was recorded 26 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.3% in the 0-30k band and 22.1% in the 90-120k band, a 11.7-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 15.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 59 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 30 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 23 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 26 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 22 |
| 3 | Joints | 22 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 11 |
| 6 | Wipers | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.9% | 94 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.6% | 92 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 73 |
| 4 | Visibility | 11.9% | 70 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.8% | 28 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 17 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 87 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 242 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 154 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 68 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 132 | 13.6% |
| 2023 | 142 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 162 | 19.8% |
| 2025 | 153 | 14.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transit 290 Ecoblue
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Body, structure & corrosion (4.4% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2019 Ford Transit 290 Ecoblues pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 590 2019 Ford Transit 290 Ecoblue MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford Transit 290 Ecoblue?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by brakes (5.1%).
Does the 2019 Transit 290 Ecoblue get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 590 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.