1999 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Ford Transit passed 74.3% of its 6,318 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (29.6% fail rate), the 1999 Transit comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.1%) and suspension (13.2%) 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 1,450 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.8% in the 0-30k band and 28.5% in the 150k+ band, a 12.7-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.5% in 2021 to 24.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 890 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 833 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.4% | 718 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.5% | 600 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.0% | 440 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.7% | 234 |
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 | 1,450 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 505 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 481 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 433 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 362 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 328 |
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 | 31.8% | 2,009 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.1% | 1,842 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.9% | 1,446 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.5% | 1,293 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 1,027 |
| 6 | Tyres | 15.6% | 986 |
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 | 114 | 15.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,226 | 21.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,718 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,179 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 847 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,222 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,052 | 25.8% |
| Petrol | 266 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,485 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 1,417 | 27.0% |
| 2023 | 1,227 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 1,168 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 1,021 | 24.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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 (11.4% 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 1999 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
74.3% of the 6,318 1999 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 1999 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,318 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.