2011 Ford Transit Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Ford Transit Connect passed 71.4% of its 40,351 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.0 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.1%) and brakes (16.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), rigid brake pipes and stop lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 3,980 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.4% in the 0-30k band and 30.5% in the 150k+ band, a 11.1-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 43.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 6,886 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.1% | 6,482 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.0% | 4,440 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 3,948 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.5% | 2,611 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 2,281 |
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) | 3,980 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 2,878 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 2,831 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 2,216 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,733 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,669 |
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 | 43.4% | 17,501 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.1% | 11,735 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 22.5% | 9,094 |
| 4 | Suspension | 20.1% | 8,102 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 7,141 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.8% | 5,549 |
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 | 237 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,922 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 6,491 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 11,009 | 28.4% |
| 120-150k | 10,533 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 10,125 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 40,222 | 28.6% |
| Petrol | 104 | 27.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,883 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 8,752 | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 8,353 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 7,613 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 6,750 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Transit Connect
On a 2011 Transit Connect, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.1% 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 (11.0% 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 2011 Ford Transit Connects pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 40,351 2011 Ford Transit Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford Transit Connect?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by brakes (16.1%).
Does the 2011 Transit Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 40,351 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.