2018 Ford Transit Custom 2.0L Diesel · AF68 ADV

The 2018 Ford Transit Custom presents an exceptionally clean DVSA MOT history, with the most recent test on 10 September 2025 recorded as a pass with no defects or advisories noted. This sequence of five consecutive passes, stretching back to September 2021, demonstrates a stable and consistent maintenance profile with no emerging patterns of deterioration or recurring issues flagged by the examining station. The absence of advisories on the latest certificate is particularly reassuring, as even minor items such as tyre wear approaching the legal limit, brake component condition, or minor oil seepage are typically captured at test. Taken together, the trend strongly suggests the vehicle has been conscientiously maintained and presented for test in good mechanical order, which is a positive indicator of overall roadworthiness for a prospective buyer. Against the vehicle's eight-year age, the recorded mileage of 70,320 miles equates to an annual average of approximately 8,790 miles, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for a commercial van of this type. The MOT records indicate annual tests across consecutive periods with no significant gaps in presentation, suggesting the vehicle has remained in active service rather than being laid up for extended periods. For a Transit Custom, this level of use is sufficient to keep mechanical components, particularly the braking system, clutch, and drivetrain, functioning without the seizing or degradation issues that often plague low-mileage or sporadically used vans, though it is not so high as to imply extreme wear on major assemblies at this stage. Given the clean test record and moderate usage pattern, physical inspection should focus on age-related deterioration rather than any specific flagged defects. The tyres warrant close scrutiny for sidewall perishing and cracking, as rubber compounds degrade with calendar age regardless of tread depth, and a Transit Custom used for load carrying can exhibit uneven shoulder wear indicative of alignment drift or overloaded operation. Brake discs should be examined for lipping and surface corrosion, particularly given the propensity for front discs to develop rust through standing or light use, and the caliper slide pins should be checked for free movement to rule out binding. Under-bonnet inspection should verify coolant and brake fluid condition by date stamp, as both fluids are subject to time-based degradation; brake fluid in particular should be renewed every two years regardless of mileage, and an eight-year-old vehicle will almost certainly be due for renewal if the service history cannot evidence it. A test drive should be used to identify symptoms not captured by the MOT, including any clonks or knocking from the suspension over uneven surfaces, which would point to worn anti-roll bar bushes, drop links, or shock absorber mountings common to the Transit platform. Steering should be assessed for vagueness or knocking at full lock, indicative of worn track rod ends or Power Assisted Steering component wear. The clutch should be evaluated for slipping under load, any graunching on selection, or excessive travel, while the diesel engine should be observed from cold start for excessive timing chain rattle, any emission of smoke, or rough idle suggesting injector or EGR valve concerns. Finally, verify the service book stamps and confirm that the cambelt replacement interval, typically every 100,000 miles or five years for this engine, has been observed, as the absence of this critical maintenance item on an eight-year-old vehicle could lead to catastrophic engine failure and would represent a significant negotiating point or required immediate expenditure.