2018 Ford Transit Custom 2.0L Diesel · EN68 ABV

With six MOT test entries recorded over a five-year span and 150,649 miles on the clock, this 2018 Ford Transit Custom carries a roadworthiness profile that is mixed but ultimately passable, with the latest test on 23 January 2026 returning a clean pass and no advisories. However, the underlying history reveals a pattern of component-level issues that a prospective buyer should not overlook. A front lower suspension arm pin or bush wear advisory was flagged on both sides at the end of 2024, and earlier records show brake pad wear advisories on both axles in late 2022, plus a nearside front tyre wear advisory in 2021. Two failures are also on file, both addressing front-end lighting and visibility: an offside front headlamp aim problem in January 2024 and a more substantial failure in December 2021 involving an ineffective windscreen wiper, a non-functioning offside dipped beam headlamp, and an inoperative registration plate lamp. The fact that the 2024 failure was corrected with a retest on the same day indicates a relatively minor repair, but the cluster of headlamp and wiper defects across separate tests suggests the electrical and lighting systems on this vehicle warrant close attention. At roughly 18,800 miles per year over an eight-year life, this Transit Custom has been worked considerably harder than the average vehicle of its age. That level of annual mileage is consistent with sustained commercial or fleet duty, and the cumulative figure of over 150,000 miles means that high-wear consumables and major drivetrain components will have absorbed substantial use. There are no extended gaps between tests that would suggest prolonged off-road storage, and the mileage progression across tests appears broadly consistent with steady operational use rather than sporadic or intermittent driving. Mechanically, this usage profile typically translates to accelerated wear on clutch assemblies, turbocharger components, dual-mass flywheels, suspension bushes, brake discs and pads, and steering linkages. Given the commercial-duty mileage, even components that have not yet been flagged by the MOT tester may be approaching the back end of their service life. For a hands-on evaluation, the front suspension should be a primary focus. The 2024 advisory specifically noted worn pins or bushes in both lower suspension arms, and since then a further year and roughly 18,000 miles of use have elapsed, so a careful listen and feel over uneven road surfaces is essential. On a test drive, any knocking or clonking from the front end when traversing speed bumps, potholes, or broken tarmac would indicate that the bush wear has progressed to the point of excessive movement, and vague or wandering steering behaviour under braking or on cambers could point to further deterioration of the front lower arm assemblies. Because the advisory was bilateral, both sides should be inspected for perished rubber, cracking, or visible deflection in the bushes, and the arms themselves should be checked for any play when the wheel is levered by hand with the vehicle raised. The braking system also deserves deliberate inspection. Thin front and rear brake pads were noted at the 2022 test, and with another three years and substantial mileage accrued since, the discs as well as the pads will now need to be assessed for remaining material, lipping, and surface condition. On the road, any vibration through the brake pedal, grinding noises, or pulling to one side under heavy braking would suggest the discs have worn beyond their service limit or that a caliper is binding. The headlamp and wiper defects recorded in 2021 and 2024 point to intermittent electrical concerns at the front of the vehicle, so all exterior lighting, dipped and main beam operation, and wiper effectiveness across the full sweep should be verified in person before purchase. Finally, given the high commercial mileage, it is prudent to inspect the clutch for slipping under load, listen for any turbocharger whine or bearing noise on overrun, and check for oil leaks around the engine and transmission seams, as none of those wear items will appear on an MOT test but are characteristic of a hard-working van approaching the upper end of its operational life.