1987 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 722 MOT tests, the 1987 Ford Transit recorded a 73.8% pass rate. Vans of a similar age fail 28.3% of the time, so this is 2.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.4% of all tests — 5.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, chassis condition and integral vehicle structure condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 141 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1987 Transit fails 26.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 25.0% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.4% in 2021 to 22.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 133 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.9% | 93 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 88 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.0% | 72 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.7% | 63 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 55 |
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 | 141 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 72 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 70 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 54 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 53 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 46 |
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 | 33.5% | 242 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.8% | 186 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.7% | 142 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.7% | 142 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.0% | 108 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 89 |
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 | 146 | 26.0% |
| 30-60k | 173 | 24.9% |
| 60-90k | 261 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 112 | 25.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 406 | 30.5% |
| Diesel | 316 | 20.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 190 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 155 | 28.4% |
| 2023 | 151 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 128 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 98 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 1987 Transit
On a 1987 Transit, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Suspension (12.2% 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 1987 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 722 1987 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.9%).
Does the 1987 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 722 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.