2018 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
111,557 MOT tests on the 2018 Ford Transit are in this dataset, and 85.1% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 16.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.0%) and visibility (5.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and headlamp aim — brake pads alone was recorded 4,052 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 20.2% versus 8.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 25.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.0% | 8,891 |
| 2 | Visibility | 5.5% | 6,145 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.3% | 5,930 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.1% | 4,530 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 2,496 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.1% | 2,393 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 4,052 |
| 2 | Wipers | 3,600 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,912 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 2,706 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,495 |
| 6 | Joints | 2,240 |
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 | 25.6% | 28,606 |
| 2 | Tyres | 19.6% | 21,908 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 10,932 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.7% | 9,695 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.4% | 6,022 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.3% | 5,937 |
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 | 13,643 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 36,550 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 31,979 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 17,847 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 7,698 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,828 | 20.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22,337 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 22,211 | 12.9% |
| 2023 | 22,411 | 15.0% |
| 2024 | 22,320 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 22,278 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Transit
On a 2018 Transit, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (5.5% 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.
- Brakes (5.3% 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 2018 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
85.1% of the 111,557 2018 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by visibility (5.5%).
Does the 2018 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 20.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 111,557 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.