1995 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
4,220 MOT tests on the 1995 Ford Transit are in this dataset, and 72.3% of them passed. Against vans of a similar age (30.0% fail rate), the 1995 Transit comes out 2.4pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.9%) and lighting & signalling (13.8%) 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 958 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 Transit fails 31.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.3% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.9% | 587 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 583 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 559 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.0% | 420 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 300 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.5% | 146 |
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 | 958 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 402 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 378 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 245 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 212 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 198 |
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 | 36.7% | 1,547 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.8% | 1,259 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.6% | 1,123 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 26.5% | 1,118 |
| 5 | Tyres | 17.3% | 731 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 641 |
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 | 369 | 31.2% |
| 30-60k | 574 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,173 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 852 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 378 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 866 | 28.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 4,114 | 27.7% |
| Petrol | 106 | 28.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 946 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 930 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 828 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 788 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 728 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.3% 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 1995 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
72.3% of the 4,220 1995 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Ford Transit?
Suspension, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.8%).
Does the 1995 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.2% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,220 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.