2007 Ford Transit 2.4L Diesel · FY07 NBK

Front suspension wear and spreading corrosion define this Transit's recent history. The December 2023 test exposed a cluster of serious defects: a track rod end with excessive play, an excessively worn offside front lower suspension arm ball joint, a worn offside rear anti-roll bar bush, and, most concerning, a dangerous defect for nearside rear inner brake pads worn below 1.5 mm. The vehicle passed a retest days later, but the pattern repeated in December 2025, when it failed again for a nearside front wheel bearing with excessive play and an excessively worn offside front suspension arm pin or bush, passing two days afterwards. The latest pass on 18 December 2025 came with five advisories, four of them for corrosion in suspension component mounting prescribed areas at all four corners, plus a corroded nearside front brake pipe. The trend is not improving: corrosion noted generally under the vehicle as far back as 2018 has now localised into multiple prescribed structural areas. At roughly 8,371 miles per year over 19 years, the 159,048 recorded miles are typical for a working van of this age, and the annual December test rhythm suggests consistent use rather than long lay-ups, though there is a notable gap in the supplied record between 2018 and 2022. This mileage level is entirely consistent with the wear items flagged: front ball joints, track rod ends, wheel bearings, and anti-roll bar bushes are all service components that wear progressively on a high-mileage commercial vehicle, and their repeated appearance across consecutive test cycles indicates the front suspension and steering linkage have been worked hard. On a test drive, listen and feel carefully for the specific items flagged. With the wheel bearing history, drive at 40 to 50 mph and listen for a humming or droning that changes pitch when weaving gently left and right, and check for play by rocking each front wheel at the twelve and six o'clock positions with the van jacked up. For the suspension arms and ball joints, drive over broken surfaces and speed bumps listening for knocks or clunks from the front corners, and note any vagueness or wander in the steering that could point to remaining play in the track rod ends. Brake pedal feel should be firm and the van should pull up straight without judder, given the previous dangerous pad wear; ask for evidence that the rear brakes were properly overhauled rather than minimally patched. The corrosion advisories deserve the closest physical inspection before purchase. Prescribed area corrosion at all four suspension mounting points is currently judged not excessive, but on a 2007 Transit this is the classic precursor to structural failure, and the trajectory from general underbody corrosion in 2018 to four specific mounting points in 2025 suggests progression. Inspect underneath with the van on a ramp if possible, pressing and tapping around the suspension turrets, subframe mounting points, and chassis rails for softness, flaking, or fresh underseal concealing deterioration. Examine the nearside front brake pipe along its full length for heavy rust beneath any grease coating, since a corroded pipe advisory can become a burst pipe without much warning. Budget for ongoing suspension and corrosion repairs, and treat any asking price as reflecting a van that will need continued investment to remain roadworthy.