2011 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Ford Transit passed 69.9% of its 133,851 recorded MOT tests. Against vans of a similar age (26.5% fail rate), the 2011 Transit comes out 3.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (21.4%) and suspension (18.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, rigid brake pipes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 13,451 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.0% in the 0-30k band and 30.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.7-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 46.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.4% | 28,683 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.9% | 25,345 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.8% | 15,783 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 9,893 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 8,961 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 7,888 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 13,451 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 12,096 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 10,675 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 10,287 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 10,134 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 8,156 |
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 | 46.4% | 62,070 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.2% | 49,746 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.1% | 29,652 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 28,854 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.3% | 27,207 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 19,765 |
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 | 1,312 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 4,834 | 22.4% |
| 60-90k | 15,702 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 29,830 | 30.7% |
| 120-150k | 32,910 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 49,020 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 133,670 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 176 | 26.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,052 | 28.8% |
| 2022 | 29,551 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 27,625 | 30.6% |
| 2024 | 25,001 | 30.8% |
| 2025 | 21,622 | 30.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.9% 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 (11.8% 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 2011 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 133,851 2011 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.4% of tests, followed by suspension (18.9%).
Does the 2011 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.0% in the 0-30k band to 30.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 133,851 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.