2015 Ford Transit 2.2L Diesel · FJ65 PVT

Chronic brake pipe corrosion is the defining mechanical thread running through this Transit's MOT record, with advisories appearing at every test since at least 2024 and flagged on both front and rear lines across multiple axles. The most recent examination on 14 October 2025 returned a pass, but it came immediately after a failure the previous day for a non-functioning nearside stop lamp and an excessively worn offside front suspension arm pin or bush, the latter being a direct escalation of a worn-but-passing advisory recorded on the same component in September 2023. The pattern suggests a vehicle that is being held together cosmetically for each test rather than receiving substantive repairs, with grease-covered brake lines masking the true extent of corrosion and a suspension linkage that has demonstrably progressed from borderline wear to outright failure within a two-year window. The 2023 test also surfaced a split nearside CV boot and an oil leak, both of which, while not repeated as failures, point to under-bonnet wear consistent with a hard-working commercial vehicle. With 173,166 miles on the odometer against an 11-year age, this Transit has averaged roughly 15,742 miles annually, a figure well above typical private-car usage and entirely consistent with its likely role as a working van. The mileage history shows no anomalous jumps or extended periods off the road, indicating continuous service rather than long lay-ups, which means the wear profile observed in the MOT data is genuine and cumulative rather than the product of storage deterioration. Sustained high-mileage operation of this kind places predictable pressure on the clutch, dual-mass flywheel, turbocharger, injector seals, and engine mounts, none of which are visible at MOT but all of which should be regarded as finite-life items at this accumulation. The absence of any mileage gap or sudden drop also rules out odometer discontinuity, giving confidence that the recorded figure reflects real-world use. A prospective buyer should focus the pre-purchase inspection squarely on the flagged items. The brake pipe corrosion advisories spanning both front and rear axles warrant a thorough visual examination with a torch at every accessible line run, paying particular attention to unions at the master cylinder, ABS modulator, and flexible hose junctions where surface rust typically originates; on the road, any spongy pedal feel, excessive travel, or pulling under heavy braking should be treated as confirmation that the lines have finally perforated. The offside front suspension arm bush failure recorded in 2025 means the component has already been replaced or should have been, and on a test drive listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, watch for vague steering response, and check for uneven inner-edge tyre wear which would indicate the bush has re-degraded or that the replacement was substandard. The nearside front CV joint boot that split in 2023 should be inspected for fresh grease contamination around the inner or outer joint and the joint itself rotated by hand to feel for any clicking or grinding indicative of worn internals. Beyond the flagged components, the rear brake pad thinness advisory from 2024 and the pitted offside front brake disc from 2023 both demand a current measurement of pad material thickness and disc lip depth, as pads fitted at MOT advisory level typically run a further 12 to 18 months at most under commercial load. The oil leak noted in 2023 should be traced to its source, most commonly the rocker cover gasket or sump interface on the Transit TDCi engine, and the engine bay examined for fresh residue. Finally, confirm the operation of all brake lamps, tail lamps, and number plate illumination, given the recent stop lamp failure, and verify that any rear seating removed at the 2023 test has been correctly refitted with seat belts reinstated to the original mounting points, as a missing belt at that test was listed as a major failure and its proper reinstatement is essential for both legality and occupant safety.