2019 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue — MOT failures & pass rate
446 MOT tests on the 2019 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue are in this dataset, and 82.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 10.3% of the time, so this is 7.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests against 6.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 33 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.1% in the 0-30k band and 25.0% in the 90-120k band, a 9.9-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 18.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 51 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 30 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.5% | 29 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.4% | 24 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 21 |
| 3 | Wipers | 19 |
| 4 | Side repeaters | 18 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 13 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | Tyres | 15.9% | 71 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 68 |
| 3 | Visibility | 12.1% | 54 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 51 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.2% | 50 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 7 |
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 | 73 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 147 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 149 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 52 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 98 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 111 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 120 | 18.3% |
| 2025 | 117 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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.
- Visibility (6.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 Leader Ecoblues pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 446 2019 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2019 Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 446 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.