2020 Ford Transit 350 Ecoblue — MOT failures & pass rate
612 MOT tests on the 2020 Ford Transit 350 Ecoblue are in this dataset, and 91.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 8.6%, so the 2020 Transit 350 Ecoblue sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 6.0% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 22 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.9% in the 0-30k band and 13.5% in the 90-120k band, a 8.6-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 13.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 37 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 18 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.1% | 13 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 12 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 9 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 6 |
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 | 22 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 12 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 8 |
| 5 | Brake discs | 8 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 7 |
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 | 13.7% | 84 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.5% | 52 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.1% | 25 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 23 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 19 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.1% | 19 |
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 | 305 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 159 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 88 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 13.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 2.9% |
| 2022 | 70 | 1.4% |
| 2023 | 147 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 164 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 161 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transit 350 Ecoblue
On a 2020 Transit 350 Ecoblue, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.9% 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.
- Tyres (2.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 350 Ecoblues pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 612 2020 Ford Transit 350 Ecoblue MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Transit 350 Ecoblue?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by brakes (2.9%).
Does the 2020 Transit 350 Ecoblue get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 13.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 612 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.