2019 Ford Transit Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
70,685 MOT tests on the 2019 Ford Transit Connect are in this dataset, and 84.0% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail at 15.2%, so the 2019 Transit Connect sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.8% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,400 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.8% versus 11.4%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 16.0% of the time against 16.2% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.4% 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% | 6,231 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.6% | 3,963 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 3,814 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 3,790 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.2% | 2,939 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 615 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,400 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 3,389 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 3,314 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 3,137 |
| 5 | Wipers | 3,116 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,413 |
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 | 25.2% | 17,828 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.3% | 12,203 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.5% | 5,995 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.7% | 4,734 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 2,661 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 1,298 |
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 | 11,674 | 11.4% |
| 30-60k | 26,721 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 19,570 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 8,976 | 18.4% |
| 120-150k | 2,777 | 18.0% |
| 150k+ | 959 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 68,296 | 16.0% |
| Petrol | 2,378 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 480 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 17,471 | 14.4% |
| 2023 | 17,880 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 17,630 | 16.9% |
| 2025 | 17,224 | 16.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transit Connect
On a 2019 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.
- Visibility (5.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 2019 Ford Transit Connects pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 70,685 2019 Ford Transit Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford Transit Connect?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by visibility (5.6%).
Does the 2019 Transit Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.4% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,685 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.