2020 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue — MOT failures & pass rate
924 MOT tests on the 2020 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue are in this dataset, and 82.8% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (9.4% fail rate), the 2020 Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue comes out 7.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests against 5.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, side repeaters and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 39 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.3% in the 0-30k band and 20.0% in the 90-120k band, a 9.7-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 18.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 113 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.7% | 53 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 47 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 43 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.3% | 40 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.4% | 31 |
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 | 39 |
| 2 | Side repeaters | 35 |
| 3 | Wipers | 33 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 32 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 26 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
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 | 20.0% | 185 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.6% | 163 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 124 |
| 4 | Visibility | 10.0% | 92 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.3% | 58 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.8% | 26 |
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 | 126 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 330 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 316 | 18.7% |
| 90-120k | 115 | 20.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 297 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 308 | 15.9% |
| 2025 | 315 | 18.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.1% 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 2020 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblues pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 924 2020 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by visibility (5.7%).
Does the 2020 Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 20.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 924 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.