2002 Ford Transit Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2002 Ford Transit Connect passed 67.5% of its 2,376 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.5 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 30.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 24.9% of all tests — 5.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 465 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 22.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 34.2% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 44.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.1% in 2021 to 29.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.9% | 592 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.3% | 458 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.6% | 394 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 267 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.5% | 203 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.3% | 173 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 465 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 249 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 243 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 228 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 215 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 184 |
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 | 44.6% | 1,061 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.4% | 888 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 34.3% | 816 |
| 4 | Tyres | 29.8% | 709 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 26.9% | 640 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.1% | 477 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 68 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 159 | 24.5% |
| 90-120k | 475 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 602 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,012 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 781 | 34.1% |
| 2022 | 632 | 31.3% |
| 2023 | 438 | 32.4% |
| 2024 | 314 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 211 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Transit Connect
On a 2002 Transit Connect, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 24.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (24.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (19.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (16.6% 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.
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 2002 Ford Transit Connects pass their MOT?
67.5% of the 2,376 2002 Ford Transit Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Ford Transit Connect?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.9% of tests, followed by suspension (19.3%).
Does the 2002 Transit Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.1% in the 30-60k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,376 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.