2020 Ford Transit Connect 1.5L Diesel · EX70 VGJ

The defining mechanical story across the recorded MOT history is a consistent pattern of braking and tyre wear advisories clustering at the rear axle. Three tests are on file between 2023 and 2025, all resulting in passes, but each has flagged rear-end deterioration in sequence. In October 2023, the rear brake pads were noted to be approximately eighty percent worn. By October 2025, a follow-up advisory recorded the rear inner brake pads as wearing thin, and both rear tyres were called out as worn close to the legal limit at the inner edge with a remaining tread depth of only two millimetres. A minor windscreen damage note also appeared in 2025, alongside a 2024 advisory regarding items removed from the driver's view prior to test. The trajectory across these three years shows a vehicle that has continued to pass but with rear brake and tyre wear repeatedly approaching intervention thresholds, suggesting that consumable replacement at the back axle is now due. Recorded mileage of 50,163 on a 2020 registration works out at roughly 8,360 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a commercial vehicle of this age and class. There are no unusual gaps in the testing history and no obvious mileage inconsistencies, indicating regular use rather than long periods of standing or sudden bursts of high-mileage activity. For a diesel-powered Transit Connect of this type, average commercial mileage generally means the engine, clutch, dual-mass flywheel, turbocharger, and diesel particulate filter have all been worked at a reasonable rate. Braking components, steering and suspension linkages, wheel bearings, and drivetrain mounts will have experienced proportional wear, and the fact that rear brake and tyre issues have already surfaced suggests the front axle is unlikely to be far behind in terms of component fatigue. A prospective buyer should focus the inspection on the rear braking system and rear suspension geometry, given that rear pad wear has been flagged twice and rear tyre inner-edge wear has reached the legal threshold. On a test drive, listen for any binding or dragging sensation from the rear calipers, particularly when first releasing the brake pedal from a standstill, as seized rear caliper sliding pins or pistons can accelerate inner-edge tyre wear in exactly the manner recorded here. Feel for any pulling to one side under moderate braking, which would confirm uneven caliper operation, and check that the handbrake holds firmly on an incline without creeping. Inspect the rear tyres not just for tread depth but also for feathering or stepped wear on the inner shoulder, which would point to either camber misalignment from worn rear suspension bushes or trailing arm bushes, or simply to a binding brake mechanism. Beyond the rear axle, pay close attention to the front braking and steering components, as comparable wear will inevitably be developing there given the mileage and the rear-end pattern. On test, listen for any clonks or knocks from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, particularly from the anti-roll bar bushes, drop links, and lower wishbone arms, which are common wear points on Transits of this generation. Check for any steering wander, vagueness on centre, or knocking when turning at low speed, all of which would indicate worn track rod ends or front strut top mounts. Finally, verify that the windscreen damage noted as a minor in 2025 has not progressed to a position that could obstruct the driver's view, and confirm that the tyre tread depth, particularly on the rear axle, is now well above the legal minimum rather than sitting at the two-millimetre margin previously recorded.