2016 Ford Transit Connect 1.5L Diesel · EJ16 EYR

The 2016 Ford Transit Connect passed its most recent MOT on 12 November 2025 at 25,734 miles, but the maintenance trend is clearly worsening. That test flagged an offside rear shock absorber with a heavy oil leak alongside heavy corrosion, plus a corroded nearside rear shock absorber. These are structural suspension faults, not minor consumable wear. The rear shock absorber oil misting first appeared as a minor advisory in November 2023 at 20,681 miles and was repeated in November 2024 at 23,257 miles before escalating to a heavy leak with heavy corrosion by late 2025. That progression indicates the offside rear unit has been seeping fluid for at least two years and the corrosion has now become significant enough to warrant a formal failure-level advisory. The vehicle remains roadworthy on paper, but the suspension is deteriorating and requires prompt attention. The mileage profile is unusually low. Across roughly ten years this van has covered 25,734 miles, averaging approximately 2,573 miles per year. The annual MOT records show steady but modest accumulation: 15,544 miles in November 2021, 17,931 in November 2022, 20,681 in November 2023, 23,257 in November 2024, and 25,734 in November 2025. That is a consistent pattern of roughly 2,300 to 2,600 miles per year with no sudden spikes or suspicious gaps. Low annual mileage can mean less mechanical wear in absolute terms, but it also raises the possibility of long periods standing idle, which accelerates corrosion on brake components, suspension bushes, and exhaust systems. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the rear suspension and braking system. The rear brake pads have been flagged as wearing thin at every single MOT from 2021 through 2023, suggesting either aggressive braking habits or a caliper issue causing persistent drag. The rear shock absorbers are now actively leaking and corroded, which will affect damping performance, tyre contact, and potentially the structural mounting points. Check the rear subframe, spring seats, and lower suspension arms for corrosion, particularly on the offside where the heaviest corrosion was noted. Inspect the brake discs and calipers at the rear for scoring or binding, given the repeated pad wear advisories. The tyre condition advisories across multiple years also suggest the van may spend time parked on uneven surfaces or with incorrect pressures, so examine all four tyres for sidewall cracking and uneven wear patterns.