2007 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Ford Transit passed 69.4% of its 77,195 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points worse than vans of a similar age, which fail at 29.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (20.8%) and suspension (19.9%) 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, integral vehicle structure condition and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 17,874 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.8% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 47.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.1% in 2021 to 28.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.8% | 16,089 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.9% | 15,355 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.9% | 9,977 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.1% | 9,352 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.4% | 5,735 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 5,056 |
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 | 17,874 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 9,068 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 7,810 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 6,884 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 6,871 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 5,665 |
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 | 47.4% | 36,583 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.7% | 29,088 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 26.1% | 20,165 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 22.7% | 17,534 |
| 5 | Tyres | 21.3% | 16,417 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 20.6% | 15,898 |
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 | 1,439 | 19.8% |
| 30-60k | 4,276 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 6,844 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 13,737 | 31.9% |
| 120-150k | 18,383 | 32.8% |
| 150k+ | 31,944 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 76,762 | 30.6% |
| Petrol | 433 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,791 | 32.1% |
| 2022 | 18,868 | 31.2% |
| 2023 | 15,142 | 30.4% |
| 2024 | 12,020 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 9,374 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Transit
On a 2007 Transit, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 20.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (20.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (19.9% 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.
- Brakes (12.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2007 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
69.4% of the 77,195 2007 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.8% of tests, followed by suspension (19.9%).
Does the 2007 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.8% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 77,195 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.