2019 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 11,471 MOT tests, the 2019 Ford Transit recorded an 85.5% pass rate. That is effectively the same as vans of a similar age (15.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests against 4.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 418 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.7% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 963 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.8% | 553 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.6% | 532 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 516 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 315 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 128 |
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 | 418 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 380 |
| 3 | Wipers | 335 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 294 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 255 |
| 6 | Joints | 211 |
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 | 22.5% | 2,582 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.5% | 2,356 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.8% | 1,128 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 844 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.6% | 645 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.7% | 537 |
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 | 2,392 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 4,020 | 14.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,666 | 16.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,393 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 572 | 20.6% |
| 150k+ | 424 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 252 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 2,779 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 2,816 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 2,845 | 16.7% |
| 2025 | 2,779 | 15.7% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Transit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.8% 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.
- Tyres (4.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2019 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 11,471 2019 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by brakes (4.8%).
Does the 2019 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 11,471 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.