1989 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
2,402 MOT tests on the 1989 Ford Transit are in this dataset, and 71.8% of them passed. Vans of a similar age fail at 28.8%, so the 1989 Transit sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.9% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of suspension, 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 444 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1989 Transit fails 29.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.0% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 27.8% of the time against 28.6% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.8% in 2021 to 25.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.9% | 430 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.1% | 314 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 284 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.4% | 273 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 199 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 141 |
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 | 444 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 193 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 179 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 141 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 139 |
| 6 | Wipers | 125 |
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% | 775 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.9% | 621 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.3% | 560 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.4% | 490 |
| 5 | Tyres | 18.2% | 437 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 294 |
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 | 696 | 29.3% |
| 30-60k | 604 | 27.2% |
| 60-90k | 789 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 261 | 28.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,254 | 28.6% |
| Diesel | 1,146 | 27.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 570 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 523 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 490 | 28.0% |
| 2024 | 432 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 387 | 25.1% |
What to check before buying a 1989 Transit
On a 1989 Transit, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.1% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.8% 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+.
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 1989 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
71.8% of the 2,402 1989 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.9% of tests, followed by suspension (13.1%).
Does the 1989 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,402 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.