2016 Ford Transit Courier — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Ford Transit Courier passed 80.0% of its 17,165 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail at 19.5%, so the 2016 Transit Courier sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 16.1% of all tests — 9.4 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,409 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.0% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.6pp more often than petrol ones (20.1% vs 17.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 2,760 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.7% | 1,147 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 1,146 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 890 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.0% | 687 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 469 |
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 | 1,409 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 928 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 827 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 688 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 641 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 628 |
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 | 26.2% | 4,494 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 2,434 |
| 3 | Visibility | 10.2% | 1,757 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,604 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.3% | 1,254 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.3% | 1,252 |
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 | 917 | 12.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,733 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 5,246 | 19.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,218 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,903 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 1,119 | 25.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,552 | 20.1% |
| Petrol | 613 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,537 | 18.2% |
| 2022 | 3,480 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 3,442 | 19.8% |
| 2024 | 3,388 | 21.4% |
| 2025 | 3,318 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Transit Courier
On a 2016 Transit Courier, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.7% 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.
- Suspension (6.7% 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 2016 Ford Transit Couriers pass their MOT?
80.0% of the 17,165 2016 Ford Transit Courier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ford Transit Courier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by tyres (6.7%).
Does the 2016 Transit Courier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,165 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.