2018 Ford Transit Courier 1.5L Diesel · FD68 JUU

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance trend shows a shift toward mechanical wear after years of clean records. The most recent test in October 2025 at 96,736 miles resulted in a failure for offside front play in the steering rack inner joints. This marks a departure from the previous three years of testing where the vehicle passed with no recorded defects, indicating that major components are now beginning to reach the end of their operational life. The mileage pattern reflects consistent and heavy usage, averaging approximately 12,000 miles per year. Between November 2021 and November 2024, the vehicle covered 47,886 miles, showing a steady annual increase. However, the interval between the November 2024 test and the October 2025 test saw an additional of 14,959 miles in under eleven months. This rapid accumulation suggests the van was used intensively in the last year, which typically accelerates the degradation of the drivetrain, braking system, and suspension-related hardware. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the steering and suspension assembly to determine if the play in the inner joints has affected the steering rack or control arms. Given the high mileage and the recent failure, you should also check for signs of worn rubber bushings and shock absorbers, which often follow steering joint issues. While the history was clean for several years, the sudden transition to mechanical faults suggests that the vehicle is now entering a phase requiring more frequent preventative maintenance to maintain its roadworthiness.