1991 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,792 MOT tests, the 1991 Ford Transit recorded a 71.3% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (29.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.7%) and suspension (15.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
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 397 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 30.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.5% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 28.5% of the time against 29.0% for petrol.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 317 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.2% | 272 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 232 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.4% | 205 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.8% | 175 |
| 6 | Steering | 5.6% | 100 |
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 | 397 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 137 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 130 |
| 4 | Wipers | 121 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 108 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 94 |
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 | 34.4% | 617 |
| 2 | Brakes | 28.2% | 506 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.8% | 462 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 24.9% | 447 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.7% | 300 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 207 |
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 | 416 | 30.8% |
| 30-60k | 489 | 27.4% |
| 60-90k | 627 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 209 | 28.2% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 12.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 934 | 28.5% |
| Petrol | 858 | 29.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 406 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 400 | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 379 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 328 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 279 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.0% 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 1991 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
71.3% of the 1,792 1991 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.7% of tests, followed by suspension (15.2%).
Does the 1991 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.8% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,792 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.