2015 Ford Transit Courier — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,971 MOT tests, the 2015 Ford Transit Courier recorded a 78.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (21.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests against 7.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,751 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 24.7% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 17.2% fail against 21.5% for diesel, a 4.3-point gap across 21,971 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 3,686 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 1,735 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 1,448 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 1,427 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.9% | 852 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 836 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 1,751 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,141 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,097 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 978 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 964 |
| 6 | Washers | 943 |
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 | 27.7% | 6,080 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.4% | 3,391 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 2,556 |
| 4 | Visibility | 10.5% | 2,299 |
| 5 | Suspension | 9.7% | 2,125 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.3% | 1,821 |
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 | 913 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 3,183 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,619 | 20.3% |
| 90-120k | 5,558 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 3,597 | 24.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,982 | 24.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 21,402 | 21.5% |
| Petrol | 569 | 17.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,419 | 18.8% |
| 2022 | 4,438 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 4,461 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 4,353 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 4,300 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Transit Courier
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% 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.
- 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 Couriers pass their MOT?
78.6% of the 21,971 2015 Ford Transit Courier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ford Transit Courier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by suspension (7.9%).
Does the 2015 Transit Courier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 24.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,971 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.