1986 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
269 MOT tests on the 1986 Ford Transit are in this dataset, and 71.8% of them passed. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (28.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests against 14.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 51 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.6% versus 33.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 32.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.8% in 2021 to 23.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.1% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.5% | 39 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.8% | 37 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 13.4% | 36 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.7% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 51 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 37 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 30 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 27 |
| 5 | Washers | 25 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 22 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.3% | 87 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.1% | 73 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.2% | 65 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.9% | 59 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.2% | 49 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.3% | 33 |
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 | 42 | 33.3% |
| 30-60k | 92 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 79 | 25.3% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 28.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 177 | 29.4% |
| Petrol | 92 | 26.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 61 | 31.1% |
| 2023 | 58 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 48 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 38 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.5% 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.
- Suspension (13.8% 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 1986 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 269 1986 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.1% of tests, followed by brakes (14.5%).
Does the 1986 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 269 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.