2020 Ford Transit 350 Leader Ecoblue — MOT failures & pass rate
809 MOT tests on the 2020 Ford Transit 350 Leader Ecoblue are in this dataset, and 84.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (9.0% fail rate), the 2020 Transit 350 Leader Ecoblue comes out 6.4pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.0% of all tests — 4.6 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, position lamp and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 37 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.6% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 81 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.4% | 44 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.9% | 40 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.7% | 30 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 18 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 14 |
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 | 37 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 31 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 29 |
| 4 | Wipers | 23 |
| 5 | Washers | 18 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 16 |
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 | 20.4% | 165 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 149 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 77 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.8% | 63 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.2% | 50 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 31 |
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 | 200 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 299 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 216 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 64 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 309 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 234 | 15.4% |
| 2025 | 221 | 15.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transit 350 Leader Ecoblue
On a 2020 Transit 350 Leader Ecoblue, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (5.4% 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 (4.9% 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 2020 Ford Transit 350 Leader Ecoblues pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 809 2020 Ford Transit 350 Leader Ecoblue MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Transit 350 Leader Ecoblue?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by brakes (5.4%).
Does the 2020 Transit 350 Leader Ecoblue get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 809 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.