2021 Ford Transit Courier — MOT failures & pass rate
8,208 MOT tests on the 2021 Ford Transit Courier are in this dataset, and 87.3% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (13.9% fail rate), the 2021 Transit Courier comes out 1.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.1%) and visibility (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 479 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.8% in the 0-30k band and 21.0% in the 120-150k band, a 10.3-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 12.4% of the time against 12.8% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.2% of tests failed in 2023 against 12.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 587 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.7% | 550 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.1% | 421 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 214 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 89 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.7% | 57 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 479 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 298 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 248 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 188 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 182 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 151 |
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 | 22.7% | 1,862 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 979 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.6% | 623 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.3% | 518 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 247 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 137 |
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 | 2,345 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 3,618 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 1,646 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 470 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 100 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 5,969 | 12.8% |
| Petrol | 2,239 | 12.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 129 | 6.2% |
| 2024 | 4,053 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 3,998 | 12.7% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Transit Courier
On a 2021 Transit Courier, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (6.7% 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 (5.1% 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 2021 Ford Transit Couriers pass their MOT?
87.3% of the 8,208 2021 Ford Transit Courier MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford Transit Courier?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.1% of tests, followed by visibility (6.7%).
Does the 2021 Transit Courier get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,208 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.