2018 Ford Transit Custom — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 159,031 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Ford Transit Custom, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes. Its pass rate of 86.6% was above the average for vans of a similar age (83.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.5% in the 150k+ group versus 7.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 11,638 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.5% | 8,808 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.7% | 7,543 |
| 4 | Tyres | 3.9% | 6,159 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 2,452 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.2% | 1,855 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 6,177 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 5,979 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 4,117 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,809 |
| 5 | Washers | 3,016 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,720 |
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 | 22.3% | 35,509 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.2% | 30,595 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.9% | 14,147 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.9% | 9,325 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.5% | 8,747 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 7,612 |
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 | 15,874 | 7.2% |
| 30-60k | 54,142 | 11.4% |
| 60-90k | 47,894 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 25,783 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 10,259 | 17.4% |
| 150k+ | 5,036 | 17.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,456 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 31,836 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 32,175 | 13.8% |
| 2024 | 32,321 | 14.7% |
| 2025 | 32,243 | 15.4% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Transit Custom
Before buying a 2018 Ford Transit Custom, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.3% of tests for this year.
- 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.
- Visibility (5.5% 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.
- Brakes (4.7% 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.
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 2018 Ford Transit Customs pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 159,031 2018 Ford Transit Custom MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford Transit Custom?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by visibility (5.5%).
Does the 2018 Transit Custom get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 159,031 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.