2015 Ford Transit 2.2L Diesel · AX65 EDR

The most recent MOT test on 27 November 2025 resulted in a pass, which is positive, but the underlying history from the preceding fortnight is cause for closer attention. On 11 November 2025 the vehicle failed on three major items, namely an excessively corroded offside front brake pipe, a nearside front service brake that was excessively binding, and a nearside front inner brake disc that was recorded as significantly and obviously worn. The fact that the brake pipe corrosion, the binding caliper or brake mechanism, and the worn disc were all identified on the same axle points to a front brake system that has been neglected or has suffered accelerated wear. While the retest two weeks later produced a pass, it was accompanied by an advisory noting a slight seepage from a corroded power steering pipe on the offside front lower assembly, suggesting the steering hydraulic system is also beginning to deteriorate. The overall trend across the last two test cycles is one of worsening condition, particularly affecting braking and steering components, and any prospective buyer should treat this as a maintenance priority rather than as a resolved issue. The recorded mileage of 156,134 miles on an eleven-year-old commercial vehicle equates to an annual average of around 14,194 miles, which is broadly typical for a working Transit but must be viewed in the context of commercial duty cycles. The MOT history does not reveal extended gaps in testing, with annual tests consistently recorded back to 2021, and the absence of very low annual mileages suggests the vehicle has been in regular service rather than left standing. However, the pattern of front suspension arm pin or bush advisories appearing in 2021, 2022, and 2024, combined with brake wear advisories in 2022, indicates progressive wear consistent with sustained load-bearing operation. Commercial use accelerates wear on suspension bushes, drop links, anti-roll bar components, and front brake assemblies due to the additional unladen and laden weight cycles typical of a Transit, so the recorded mileage should be considered a fair representation of mechanical stress rather than purely distance covered. Given the recurring advisories on the nearside and offside front suspension arm pins or bushes, a prospective buyer should physically inspect the front suspension for any visible cracking, perishing, or splitting of the rubber bushes, and should listen on a test drive for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension, particularly when traversing speed humps, potholes, or uneven surfaces. Steering vagueness, tramlining, or uneven front tyre wear, particularly inner or outer shoulder wear, would indicate that the bushes have deteriorated beyond advisory thresholds. The brake disc wear recorded as a major failure, combined with the binding brake on the nearside front, warrants a thorough inspection of the caliper slide pins and pistons for free movement, a check of the brake pipework along its full length for corrosion beyond the previously replaced section, and confirmation that the inner and outer disc surfaces are within minimum thickness specifications. Any brake shudder, pulling to one side under braking, or a brake pedal that feels spongy or low would indicate incomplete repair and require immediate rectification. Beyond the documented advisories, this high-mileage eleven-year-old Transit demands close attention to age-related deterioration irrespective of MOT findings. The power steering seepage noted in the latest test, combined with the corroded pipework previously flagged, means the hydraulic fluid level and condition should be checked and the pipework inspected for rust bubbling along its entire run, as corroded brake and steering pipes are a common failure point on Transits of this age. The offside front drive shaft constant velocity boot was recorded as severely deteriorated in 2024 and remains a minor item; an intact but possibly perished boot should be examined, as any splits will lead to grease loss and eventual joint failure, manifesting as a clicking noise on full lock. The oil leak advisory from the same period should be traced to its source, whether sump, cam cover, or turbo sealing, and the level monitored. Given the vehicle's age, the buyer should also verify the timing belt or chain service interval depending on engine variant, confirm recent renewal of coolant, brake fluid, and transmission oil to time-based schedules rather than mileage, and check the 12V battery health, as commercial vehicles often suffer repeated deep discharge cycles. Finally, although the MOT record shows no advisories on tyres in the most recent test, the 2023 dangerous tyre tread failure and the 2022 edge-wear advisories demonstrate that front tyres on this vehicle wear quickly, so a measurement of all four tread depths and an inspection of the sidewalls for cracking or perishing consistent with age is essential before purchase.