2009 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 81,620 MOT tests analysed for the 2009 Ford Transit, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 68.8% was below the average for vans of a similar age (71.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 31.7% in the 150k+ group versus 18.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.9% | 17,079 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.2% | 16,505 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.3% | 10,878 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 8,004 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 6,080 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.1% | 5,784 |
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 | 10,663 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 7,615 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 7,420 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 6,269 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 6,198 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 5,666 |
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 | 47.6% | 38,852 |
| 2 | Suspension | 39.2% | 31,964 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 21.7% | 17,726 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.5% | 17,548 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.2% | 16,453 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.8% | 16,173 |
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 | 1,717 | 18.7% |
| 30-60k | 4,279 | 21.0% |
| 60-90k | 8,417 | 30.2% |
| 90-120k | 14,841 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 18,734 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 33,186 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 81,394 | 31.2% |
| Petrol | 226 | 31.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,845 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 18,941 | 31.6% |
| 2023 | 16,557 | 31.1% |
| 2024 | 14,378 | 31.0% |
| 2025 | 11,899 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Transit
Before buying a 2009 Ford Transit, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 20.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (20.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (20.2% 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.
- Brakes (13.3% 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 2009 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
68.8% of the 81,620 2009 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.9% of tests, followed by suspension (20.2%).
Does the 2009 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 81,620 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.