2013 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 136,147 MOT tests, the 2013 Ford Transit recorded a 73.5% pass rate. Against vans of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), the 2013 Transit comes out 2.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.6% of tests against 10.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, registration plate lamp(s) and joints — position lamp alone was recorded 16,757 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.6% in the 0-30k band and 26.9% in the 150k+ band, a 10.2-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 41.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.6% | 29,400 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.6% | 14,481 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 14,001 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.9% | 13,498 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 7,426 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.4% | 5,974 |
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 | 16,757 |
| 2 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 13,262 |
| 3 | Joints | 12,957 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 9,745 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 8,929 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 7,272 |
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 | 41.3% | 56,198 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.0% | 39,433 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.7% | 29,565 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 22,996 |
| 5 | Visibility | 11.5% | 15,673 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 14,586 |
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 | 1,311 | 16.6% |
| 30-60k | 8,739 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 25,914 | 25.6% |
| 90-120k | 37,280 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 30,913 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 31,788 | 26.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,005 | 25.3% |
| 2022 | 28,746 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 27,564 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 26,430 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 24,402 | 27.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 21.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (21.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.6% 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 (10.3% 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 2013 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
73.5% of the 136,147 2013 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.6% of tests, followed by suspension (10.6%).
Does the 2013 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.6% in the 0-30k band to 26.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 136,147 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.