2019 Ford Transit Custom — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Ford Transit Custom passed 87.1% of its 192,191 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 15.3% of the time, so this is 2.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.3%) and visibility (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and headlamp aim — wipers alone was recorded 9,007 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.7% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 20.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 13,999 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.9% | 11,361 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.3% | 8,292 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.0% | 7,648 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 2,260 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 2,030 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 9,007 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 6,996 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5,620 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 4,872 |
| 5 | Washers | 3,293 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,845 |
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 | 20.0% | 38,506 |
| 2 | Tyres | 18.4% | 35,312 |
| 3 | Visibility | 8.9% | 17,118 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 11,421 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 8,689 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.9% | 5,649 |
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 | 26,365 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 72,533 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 53,809 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 26,016 | 15.7% |
| 120-150k | 9,614 | 17.1% |
| 150k+ | 3,840 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,148 | 10.7% |
| 2022 | 47,284 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 48,272 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 48,058 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 47,429 | 14.0% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transit Custom
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.3% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (5.9% 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.
- Brakes (4.3% 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 2019 Ford Transit Customs pass their MOT?
87.1% of the 192,191 2019 Ford Transit Custom MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford Transit Custom?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by visibility (5.9%).
Does the 2019 Transit Custom get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 192,191 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.