2005 Ford Transit Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
43,791 MOT tests on the 2005 Ford Transit Connect are in this dataset, and 66.9% of them passed. That is 3.4 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.8%) and suspension (19.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, rigid brake pipes and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 6,692 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2005 Transit Connect fails 36.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 34.0% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.1 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.2% fail against 33.3% for diesel, a 6.0-point gap across 43,773 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 43.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 9,119 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.1% | 8,369 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.6% | 7,260 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.6% | 5,513 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.7% | 3,377 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.4% | 3,259 |
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 | 6,692 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,637 |
| 3 | Joints | 3,413 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,407 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 3,378 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 3,368 |
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 | 43.3% | 18,960 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.4% | 14,173 |
| 3 | Tyres | 31.4% | 13,728 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 27.6% | 12,080 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 27.4% | 12,005 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.1% | 10,546 |
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 | 294 | 36.0% |
| 30-60k | 766 | 25.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,539 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 9,160 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 12,366 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 17,115 | 34.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 42,704 | 33.3% |
| Petrol | 1,069 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,120 | 33.2% |
| 2022 | 10,941 | 32.8% |
| 2023 | 8,643 | 33.5% |
| 2024 | 6,396 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 4,691 | 32.5% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Transit Connect
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (19.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (16.6% 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+.
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 2005 Ford Transit Connects pass their MOT?
66.9% of the 43,791 2005 Ford Transit Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Ford Transit Connect?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests, followed by suspension (19.1%).
Does the 2005 Transit Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 36.0% in the 0-30k band to 34.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 43,791 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.