FORD TRANSIT2016 · 2.2L Diesel

This Ford Transit’s most recent MOT history, spanning from July 2023 to November 2025, reveals a concerning pattern of repeated failures despite no recorded defects. The vehicle failed twice in quick succession—once in July 2023 at 117,929 miles and again in August 2023 at 117,937 miles—before passing in September 2023 and maintaining a clean record through to November 2025. The double failure at nearly identical mileages suggests either a test centre error or a persistent but undocumented issue that evaded detection during those tests. Since the last pass in November 2025, the vehicle has accumulated 11,929 miles, placing it just over a year past its most recent inspection. While the absence of defects in recent tests is technically reassuring, the earlier anomalies warrant scrutiny of components prone to intermittent failure, such as brake calipers, suspension linkages, or electrical systems that might trigger false positives. The mileage progression indicates unusually high annual usage, averaging around 13,358 miles per year over the past decade—a rate far above the typical commercial vehicle’s expected wear. Between August 2023 and September 2023, the vehicle covered just 44 miles before failing again, a gap too short to suggest meaningful maintenance or diagnostic work. Similarly, the jump from 117,937 miles in July 2023 to 121,653 miles in September 2024 represents roughly 3,716 miles in under a year, reinforcing the pattern of aggressive usage. This level of mileage demands rigorous inspection of high-wear items like tyres, brakes, and drivetrain components, as well as structural elements such as chassis rails and suspension mounts, which may now require replacement or reinforcement. Given the vehicle’s history, a buyer should prioritise an independent inspection of the brake system, particularly the rear calipers and discs, which are often sources of intermittent binding or corrosion-related failures. The suspension should be assessed for worn or leaking bushes, degraded coil springs, and corrosion at mounting points, especially in the rear axle where load-bearing components may have deteriorated over time. Exhaust emissions should also be verified, as repeated MOT failures without recorded defects could imply tampering or failing catalytic converters. Finally, the underbody should be examined for structural rust, particularly around wheel arches and sills, as prolonged high-mileage use increases the risk of compromised integrity. Documented maintenance records for oil changes, fluid top-ups, and previous MOT advisories would further clarify the vehicle’s true condition.