2004 Ford Transit 2.4L Diesel · HF02 BUS

A persistent theme runs through this Transit's MOT history: ongoing fluid leaks from the rear axle area combined with advancing surface corrosion on the load area's structural panels. The most recent test on 6 August 2026 was a pass, but it carried an oil leak advisory at the rear axle, mirroring exactly the same advisory recorded on both the pass and fail dated 1 August 2025. With three consecutive years flagging oil seepage from the differential area, the sealing condition of the rear axle warrants close attention, as continued leakage can progress from a minor drip to one that compromises lubricant levels and bearing life. The August 2025 test was a fail, though only for an insufficient washer fluid level, which is a minor easily rectified item rather than a mechanical concern. The more significant failure history sits in 2024 and 2023, both involving an illuminated ABS warning lamp, indicating an active or intermittent fault in the anti-lock braking system that has now appeared across two separate testing cycles and may not have been permanently rectified. At roughly 150,170 miles on a 2004 registration, this Transit has accumulated around 6,826 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a working van of its age, though the MOT record contains a conspicuous five-year gap between the November 2019 pass and the August 2023 test. That gap means much of the wear between 80,000 and 120,000 miles is unverified, and the advisory and failure patterns emerging from 2023 onwards are the first objective evidence of the vehicle's mechanical state in that intervening period. Mileage progression between recorded tests appears steady rather than abrupt, so there is no specific evidence of rapid accumulation, but the long undocumented period means a buyer cannot assume all routine servicing or component replacements were carried out during those years. For a prospective buyer, the rear axle oil leak is the primary mechanical concern to investigate physically, and on a test drive any sign of a heavier residue on the underside, a damp differential housing, or a smell of hot gearbox oil after a run would suggest the leak has worsened beyond the advisory threshold. The 2024 advisory also flagged an offside front suspension arm pin or bush worn but not yet excessively, and on a worn Transit of this mileage it is worth listening for clonks or knocks from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, as well as feeling for vagueness or wandering in the steering. The ABS warning lamp has been an active failure item in both 2023 and 2024, so any re-illumination of this lamp during a pre-purchase drive, particularly after pulling away from a standstill, would confirm the fault has returned. Corrosion advisories on the inner sills, door step, and rear skirt have been noted across consecutive tests, and while structural rigidity has not yet been deemed significantly reduced, this is the classic area where commercial vans first develop perforation, so a thorough visual inspection with a torch along the lower load area and inner sills is essential, probing any bubbling or flaking paintwork. The brake disc advisories recorded in August 2026 for both front discs being worn, pitted, or scored indicate the braking surfaces are nearing the end of their service life, and on a test drive any judder through the steering wheel or vibration through the brake pedal under firm application would confirm the discs have worn beyond the advisory stage and require replacement. The offside rear shock absorber was noted as lightly misting with oil in 2025, and a bouncing or wallowing ride over undulating roads, or excessive body roll during cornering, would suggest the damper has deteriorated further. The windscreen damage noted in the most recent test does not affect the driver's view and is not a structural concern, but the earlier wiper failure and non-functioning rear marker lamp recorded in 2023 suggest the electrical ancillaries on this vehicle are worth a methodical check, ensuring all exterior lamps illuminate correctly and the wipers clear the screen across their full sweep without smearing.