2021 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue passed 84.6% of its 525 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 8.6% of the time, so this is 6.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 11.1% of all tests — 6.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are side repeaters, headlamp aim and joints — side repeaters alone was recorded 28 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.4% in the 0-30k band and 21.1% in the 90-120k band, a 11.7-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 58 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 24 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.6% | 24 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.2% | 22 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.0% | 16 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Side repeaters | 28 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 3 | Joints | 15 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 14 |
| 6 | Other body component | 13 |
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 | 17.0% | 89 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 74 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 56 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.6% | 40 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 32 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.0% | 21 |
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 | 128 | 9.4% |
| 30-60k | 227 | 16.3% |
| 60-90k | 118 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 38 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 259 | 15.1% |
| 2025 | 259 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue
On a 2021 Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (4.6% 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+.
- Visibility (4.6% 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 2021 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblues pass their MOT?
84.6% of the 525 2021 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (4.6%).
Does the 2021 Transit 290 Leader Ecoblue get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 525 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.