2014 Ford Transit Custom — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 726 MOT tests, the 2014 Ford Transit Custom recorded a 76.3% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail at 23.3%, so the 2014 Transit Custom sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (9.1%) and lighting & signalling (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, pins and bushes and rigid brake pipes — joints alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.8% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.3% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.1% | 66 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 53 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 51 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 48 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 41 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 44 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 38 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 32 |
| 4 | On or after 01/01/2014 | 32 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 22 |
| 6 | Washers | 20 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 38.1% | 277 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.8% | 216 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.8% | 144 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 94 |
| 5 | Visibility | 11.3% | 82 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.5% | 76 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 82 | 15.8% |
| 60-90k | 201 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 183 | 22.4% |
| 120-150k | 146 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 106 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 126 | 19.8% |
| 2022 | 117 | 15.4% |
| 2023 | 144 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 170 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 169 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Transit Custom
On a 2014 Transit Custom, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (9.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.0% 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 2014 Ford Transit Customs pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 726 2014 Ford Transit Custom MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Ford Transit Custom?
Brakes, recorded in 9.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.3%).
Does the 2014 Transit Custom get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 30-60k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 726 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.