2010 Ford Transit Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 36,512 MOT tests, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect recorded a 68.8% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (27.4% fail rate), the 2010 Transit Connect comes out 3.8pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.9%) and brakes (17.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), stop lamp and component mounting prescribed areas — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 4,061 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.2% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 42.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 30.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 31.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 6,553 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.4% | 6,354 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.6% | 4,972 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 4,753 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 2,405 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 2,266 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 4,061 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 2,601 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 2,459 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,454 |
| 5 | Joints | 2,217 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 2,179 |
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 | 42.1% | 15,363 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.0% | 10,969 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.2% | 8,460 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.9% | 7,983 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 7,258 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 6,282 |
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 | 201 | 17.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,622 | 22.8% |
| 60-90k | 4,980 | 29.5% |
| 90-120k | 9,021 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 9,821 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 10,820 | 32.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 36,474 | 31.2% |
| Petrol | 38 | 23.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,472 | 30.1% |
| 2022 | 8,033 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 7,538 | 31.9% |
| 2024 | 6,681 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 5,788 | 31.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Transit Connect
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.4% 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.
- Suspension (13.6% 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.
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 2010 Ford Transit Connects pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 36,512 2010 Ford Transit Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Ford Transit Connect?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by brakes (17.4%).
Does the 2010 Transit Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,512 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.