2005 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 25,240 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Ford Transit, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 69.2% was below the average for vans of a similar age (70.3%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.5% | 4,677 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.4% | 4,383 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 3,796 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.9% | 2,994 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.5% | 1,892 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.1% | 1,034 |
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 | 8,376 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 3,948 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 3,595 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,711 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,707 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 1,672 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.7% | 9,274 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.2% | 8,637 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.1% | 6,850 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.9% | 5,027 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.3% | 4,869 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.8% | 3,995 |
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 | 1,198 | 30.6% |
| 30-60k | 2,382 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 3,770 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,937 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 4,842 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 6,683 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,678 | 31.0% |
| Petrol | 530 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,624 | 31.8% |
| 2022 | 6,122 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 4,789 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 3,703 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 3,002 | 29.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Transit
Before buying a 2005 Ford Transit, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.4% 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 (15.0% 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 2005 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 25,240 2005 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by suspension (17.4%).
Does the 2005 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.6% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,240 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.