2023 Ford Transit Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 442 MOT tests, the 2023 Ford Transit Connect recorded an 89.1% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (9.2% fail rate), the 2023 Transit Connect comes out 1.7pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.9%) and brakes (5.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.4% in the 0-30k band and 21.7% in the 60-90k band, a 15.3-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 26 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.2% | 23 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 15 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 3 | Wipers | 15 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 11 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 4 |
| 6 | Washers | 4 |
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 | 22.2% | 98 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 68 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.9% | 35 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.2% | 14 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.4% | 6 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 6 |
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 | 156 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 199 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 69 | 21.7% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Transit Connect
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Brakes (5.2% 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.
- Visibility (3.4% 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.
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 2023 Ford Transit Connects pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 442 2023 Ford Transit Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Ford Transit Connect?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.2%).
Does the 2023 Transit Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 442 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.