2017 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
261,472 MOT tests on the 2017 Ford Transit are in this dataset, and 82.9% of them passed. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (17.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.7%) and brakes (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, brake pads and wipers — joints alone was recorded 12,388 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.1% versus 9.3%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.7% | 22,777 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 15,531 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.3% | 13,927 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.4% | 11,467 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.1% | 10,614 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.4% | 9,001 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 12,388 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 9,890 |
| 3 | Wipers | 8,170 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 7,157 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 6,954 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 6,482 |
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 | 28.5% | 74,601 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.7% | 54,130 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.6% | 40,723 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.8% | 23,114 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 15,455 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.3% | 13,959 |
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 | 14,995 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 71,375 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 82,300 | 17.5% |
| 90-120k | 53,464 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 25,373 | 20.8% |
| 150k+ | 13,898 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50,915 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 51,527 | 14.8% |
| 2023 | 52,718 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 53,273 | 19.7% |
| 2025 | 53,039 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% 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.
- Visibility (5.3% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2017 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 261,472 2017 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 2017 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 261,472 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.