2014 Ford Transit 2.2L Diesel · BD64 JVJ

The most recent MOT, conducted on 12 November 2025 at 119,939 miles, passed but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. Just seven weeks earlier, on 24 September 2025, the vehicle failed with a cluster of serious defects. The tester flagged an oil leak excessive enough to fail the test, a non-functioning horn, a smoky exhaust, a failed wiper, and corroded front brake pipes. While the November pass suggests these specific items were addressed, the record reveals a pattern of neglect rather than careful upkeep. The steering lock has been flagged as non-functional in both the September and November 2025 tests, indicating a known fault that remains unresolved. Corroded brake pipes appearing across consecutive tests point to a vehicle that has been left exposed to the elements without adequate underbody protection or routine inspection. The mileage pattern raises its own concerns. Between the clean pass on 15 July 2021 at 81,856 miles and the next recorded test on 20 July 2022 at 109,687 miles, the van covered roughly 27,800 miles in a single year. That is nearly three times the annual average suggested by its age. After July 2022, the mileage appears to have barely moved, sitting at 119,939 miles across both the September and November 2025 tests. This suggests the vehicle has been standing idle for extended periods, which is often more damaging to a commercial vehicle than regular use. Seals dry out, brakes seize, and corrosion accelerates in stationary vehicles, and the corroded brake pipes and persistent oil leak are consistent with long periods of inactivity. A buyer should inspect the front brake pipe runs carefully, particularly where they are routed near the wheel arches or chassis rails, as corrosion covered in grease suggests a cosmetic cover-up rather than a proper repair. The persistent steering lock fault is not just an inconvenience. It is an immobilisation risk and a potential ignition barrel or column issue that can be expensive to diagnose and fix. The excessive oil leak flagged in September 2025 may have been temporarily resolved with a top-up or a gasket reseal, so a thorough check of the engine sump, rocker cover, and turbo oil feed lines is essential. The exhaust smoke advisory also warrants a cold-start inspection to rule out worn valve stem seals or a failing turbocharger. Beyond the flagged items, the structural integrity of the chassis and outriggers should be probed with a torch and a screwdriver. Commercial vehicles of this age and type are prone to corrosion behind the front wheel arches and along the inner sills, and the presence of corroded brake pipes is a strong indicator that the problem extends further than the pipework itself. The deteriorated number plate is minor, but the recurring nature of the defects across the 2025 tests suggests a vehicle that has been run to failure rather than maintained on a schedule. A pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the Ford Transit platform is strongly recommended before committing to this vehicle.