Ford Transit: brakes MOT failures
Of the 1,975,676 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset, 9.3% recorded at least one brakes failure. It shows up most on 1986 and 2008 cars.
Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair cost: £100–£350 per axle (rough UK ballpark, not a quote).
Brakes failures by year
| Model year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 269 | 14.5% |
| 1987 | 722 | 10.0% |
| 1988 | 1,589 | 9.9% |
| 1989 | 2,402 | 11.4% |
| 1990 | 2,211 | 11.3% |
| 1991 | 1,792 | 11.4% |
| 1992 | 1,619 | 13.5% |
| 1993 | 1,309 | 11.8% |
| 1994 | 2,746 | 10.5% |
| 1995 | 4,220 | 10.0% |
| 1996 | 4,941 | 9.8% |
| 1997 | 5,185 | 9.5% |
| 1998 | 5,918 | 9.7% |
| 1999 | 6,318 | 9.5% |
| 2000 | 7,029 | 10.0% |
| 2001 | 10,009 | 11.3% |
| 2002 | 15,786 | 12.1% |
| 2003 | 18,907 | 12.8% |
| 2004 | 18,052 | 11.9% |
| 2005 | 25,240 | 11.9% |
| 2006 | 46,694 | 12.2% |
| 2007 | 77,195 | 12.9% |
| 2008 | 95,178 | 13.7% |
| 2009 | 81,620 | 13.3% |
| 2010 | 114,420 | 12.5% |
| 2011 | 133,851 | 11.8% |
| 2012 | 108,912 | 11.2% |
| 2013 | 136,147 | 9.9% |
| 2014 | 183,664 | 8.6% |
| 2015 | 222,676 | 7.9% |
| 2016 | 252,102 | 6.7% |
| 2017 | 261,472 | 5.9% |
| 2018 | 111,557 | 5.3% |
| 2019 | 11,471 | 4.8% |
| 2020 | 659 | 2.7% |
| 2021 | 395 | 1.0% |
| 2022 | 784 | 3.1% |
Methodology & source. 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.