2014 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Ford Transit passed 77.4% of its 183,664 recorded MOT tests. Vans of a similar age fail at 22.9%, so the 2014 Transit sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.3%) and brakes (8.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, pins and bushes and rigid brake pipes — joints alone was recorded 14,179 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.8% versus 13.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 20.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 17,122 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.6% | 15,768 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 14,124 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.9% | 12,754 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.9% | 8,988 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.4% | 8,077 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 14,179 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 9,023 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 8,986 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 5,998 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 4,611 |
| 6 | Washers | 4,443 |
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 | 38.0% | 69,842 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.4% | 48,474 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.5% | 41,348 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.3% | 18,853 |
| 5 | Visibility | 10.0% | 18,421 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 13,492 |
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 | 1,772 | 13.2% |
| 30-60k | 15,810 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 42,811 | 21.5% |
| 90-120k | 51,009 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 38,344 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 33,799 | 23.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 183,578 | 22.6% |
| Petrol | 86 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36,938 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 37,493 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 37,183 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 36,569 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 35,481 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Transit
On a 2014 Transit, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.7% 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 2014 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 183,664 2014 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, followed by brakes (8.6%).
Does the 2014 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.2% in the 0-30k band to 23.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 183,664 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.