2023 Ford Transit Custom — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,017 MOT tests, the 2023 Ford Transit Custom recorded a 90.1% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail at 9.0%, so the 2023 Transit Custom sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.3%) and lighting & signalling (4.3%) 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 brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 48 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.2% in the 0-30k band and 26.3% in the 90-120k band, a 21.1-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.3% | 54 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 44 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.3% | 34 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 28 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 8 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 48 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 30 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 13 |
| 5 | Washers | 13 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 11 |
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 | 13.1% | 133 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 98 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.8% | 49 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.6% | 26 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 18 |
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 | 387 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 428 | 11.9% |
| 60-90k | 155 | 11.6% |
| 90-120k | 38 | 26.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75 | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 934 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Transit Custom
On a 2023 Transit Custom, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (5.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.3% 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 2023 Ford Transit Customs pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 1,017 2023 Ford Transit Custom MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Ford Transit Custom?
Visibility, recorded in 5.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.3%).
Does the 2023 Transit Custom get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 26.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,017 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.