2012 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Ford Transit passed 71.1% of its 108,912 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail 25.5% of the time, so this is 3.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 26.0% of all tests — 11.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, registration plate lamp(s) and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 19,186 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.3% in the 0-30k band and 28.7% in the 150k+ band, a 9.4-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 45.3% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 26.0% | 28,273 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.8% | 16,158 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.2% | 12,245 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 11,761 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 6,585 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 5,446 |
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 | 19,186 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 14,800 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 10,174 |
| 4 | Joints | 10,056 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 9,078 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 6,769 |
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 | 45.3% | 49,356 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.0% | 34,907 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.5% | 23,456 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.5% | 22,321 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.3% | 15,564 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.5% | 14,698 |
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 | 1,349 | 19.3% |
| 30-60k | 5,273 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 16,138 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 26,848 | 30.0% |
| 120-150k | 27,349 | 30.1% |
| 150k+ | 31,629 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 108,772 | 28.9% |
| Petrol | 132 | 22.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,221 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 23,493 | 28.5% |
| 2023 | 22,241 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 20,626 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 18,331 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Transit
On a 2012 Transit, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 26.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (26.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.8% 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 (11.2% 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 2012 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
71.1% of the 108,912 2012 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 26.0% of tests, followed by suspension (14.8%).
Does the 2012 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 108,912 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.