2015 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 222,676 MOT tests, the 2015 Ford Transit recorded a 78.8% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (21.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.9%) and body, structure & corrosion (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, rigid brake pipes and pins and bushes — joints alone was recorded 18,588 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.5% versus 10.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.9% | 17,642 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 17,426 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 16,937 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 11,955 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 11,801 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.3% | 9,470 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 18,588 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 10,175 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 9,730 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 7,612 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5,893 |
| 6 | Washers | 5,850 |
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 | 36.4% | 80,985 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.6% | 50,246 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.9% | 48,769 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 22,201 |
| 5 | Visibility | 9.7% | 21,557 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.5% | 14,428 |
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 | 3,856 | 10.8% |
| 30-60k | 28,899 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 59,764 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 59,443 | 22.6% |
| 120-150k | 38,555 | 23.3% |
| 150k+ | 32,068 | 23.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 222,495 | 21.1% |
| Petrol | 181 | 18.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44,125 | 17.8% |
| 2022 | 44,615 | 19.9% |
| 2023 | 45,138 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 44,891 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 43,907 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (7.9% 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 (7.8% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2015 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 222,676 2015 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ford Transit?
Brakes, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.8%).
Does the 2015 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 222,676 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.