2015 Ford Transit Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
79,828 MOT tests on the 2015 Ford Transit Connect are in this dataset, and 81.9% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail 21.3% of the time, so this is 3.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.8%) and brakes (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 3,575 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 7,014 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 5,362 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 5,271 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 4,146 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.2% | 2,541 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 2,503 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 3,575 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 3,513 |
| 3 | Wipers | 2,308 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,124 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,122 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,115 |
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 | 28.0% | 22,317 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.7% | 17,294 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 8,635 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.9% | 7,907 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.6% | 6,064 |
| 6 | Suspension | 6.4% | 5,114 |
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 | 1,551 | 11.8% |
| 30-60k | 10,977 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 21,629 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 21,314 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 14,096 | 20.4% |
| 150k+ | 10,206 | 21.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 79,433 | 18.1% |
| Petrol | 395 | 14.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,174 | 16.2% |
| 2022 | 16,150 | 17.1% |
| 2023 | 16,025 | 17.9% |
| 2024 | 15,831 | 19.2% |
| 2025 | 15,648 | 20.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Transit Connect
On a 2015 Transit Connect, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% 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.
- Tyres (6.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2015 Ford Transit Connects pass their MOT?
81.9% of the 79,828 2015 Ford Transit Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ford Transit Connect?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2015 Transit Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,828 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.