2008 Ford Transit 115 T350EF RWD 2.4L Heavy oil · BN08 LSZ

This 2008 Ford Transit T350 presents an inconsistent and concerning MOT history that demands careful scrutiny before purchase. The most recent test on 25 March 2026 resulted in a failure, marking the second recorded failure in the available history following a previous failure on 23 November 2023, with two intervening passes in June 2022 and January 2025. Notably, the official DVSA records show no advisories or specific defect entries logged for any of these tests, which is unusual for an eighteen-year-old commercial vehicle with this mileage; typically, a working van of this vintage would accumulate a steady stream of advisories relating to component wear. The absence of recorded defects across all five tests, despite two failures, strongly suggests that either the defects were rectified promptly between test and re-test, or that the testing station records were not fully captured. The pattern of pass-fail-pass-fail within a relatively short window indicates intermittent compliance rather than sustained roadworthiness, which is a red flag for any prospective buyer relying on these records alone. With 208,448 miles recorded across eighteen years, this Transit has covered approximately 11,580 miles annually, which sits within the typical usage band for a working medium-wheelbase van. The mileage progression between tests is consistent and shows no sudden jumps or implausibly low annual figures that might suggest clocking or extended periods off the road. Mechanical wear at this accumulated mileage on a RWD Transit would normally be evident in the MOT record through advisories for suspension bushes, brake discs, dampers, and drivetrain seals, yet none appear. This discrepancy between the expected advisory profile of a high-mileage van and the sparse official record warrants direct verification with the garage that conducted the most recent test, as it is possible that advisories were issued verbally or on supplementary documentation but not uploaded to the central DVSA system. Given the failure on the most recent test, a prospective buyer must obtain the actual failure notice from the testing station, as the components responsible for the failure will dictate the immediate rectification cost. Common failure points on a T350 of this age and mileage include rear leaf spring corrosion and cracking, front suspension wishbone bushes, brake caliper binding, and exhaust system integrity. On a thorough test drive, listen for clonking noises from the rear suspension over uneven surfaces, which would indicate worn leaf spring bushes or fatigued springs, and pay close attention to any pulling under braking, which could point to seized caliper slides or warped front discs. Inspect the underside for surface corrosion on the rear axle, subframe, and brake lines, as corrosion failures on Transits of this era frequently centre on the rear brake pipe runs along the chassis rails. The 2.4-litre TDCi diesel and RWD drivetrain in this Transit should be evaluated for oil leaks from the rear main seal and gearbox input shaft, both common on high-mileage examples; check for fresh oil residue on the bellhousing and undertray. Steering play should be assessed by rocking the wheel at standstill, feeling for excess free movement which would indicate worn tie rod ends or idler arm bushes, another known Transit weakness. Before purchase, insist on a pre-purchase inspection from a specialist familiar with Transits, as the MOT history alone does not provide the granular component information required for a confident evaluation of a commercial vehicle approaching two decades and over 200,000 miles of service.