2021 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
395 MOT tests on the 2021 Ford Transit are in this dataset, and 92.7% of them passed. That is 6.0 percentage points better than vans of a similar age, which fail at 13.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.2% of all tests — 11.1 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, outline marker lamp and individual direction indicators — headlamp aim alone was recorded 41 times.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.5% in 2021 to 8.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 48 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.0% | 4 |
| 3 | Tyres | 0.8% | 3 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 3 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 3 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.5% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 2 | Outline marker lamp | 19 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 9 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 7 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 5 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.1% | 24 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 22 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.1% | 20 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.0% | 12 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.8% | 7 |
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 | 315 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 45 | 8.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32 | 12.5% |
| 2024 | 162 | 4.9% |
| 2025 | 193 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Transit
On a 2021 Transit, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.0% 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 (0.8% 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 2021 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
92.7% of the 395 2021 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by brakes (1.0%).
Does the 2021 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 8.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 395 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.