2019 Ford Transit Courier — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 21,379 MOT tests, the 2019 Ford Transit Courier recorded an 85.4% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (15.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests against 4.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, malfunction indicator lamp and stop lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 863 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.9% versus 11.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 11.7% fail against 14.9% for diesel, a 3.2-point gap across 21,379 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.0% | 1,932 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.9% | 1,055 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.9% | 1,051 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 1,029 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.8% | 600 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 286 |
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 | 863 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 820 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 764 |
| 4 | Wipers | 752 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 747 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 560 |
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 | 23.8% | 5,082 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.2% | 2,605 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.7% | 1,854 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 1,347 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 923 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 553 |
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 | 4,002 | 11.5% |
| 30-60k | 8,015 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 5,590 | 15.5% |
| 90-120k | 2,490 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 837 | 19.8% |
| 150k+ | 431 | 23.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 19,487 | 14.9% |
| Petrol | 1,892 | 11.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 147 | 7.5% |
| 2022 | 5,324 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 5,313 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 5,292 | 14.7% |
| 2025 | 5,303 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transit Courier
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.9% 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 (4.9% 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.
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 Couriers pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 21,379 2019 Ford Transit Courier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford Transit Courier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.0% of tests, followed by visibility (4.9%).
Does the 2019 Transit Courier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.5% in the 0-30k band to 23.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 21,379 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.