2016 Ford Transit 2.0L Diesel · LD66 VWS

A chronic theme in the MOT history of this 2016 Ford Transit is rear tyre deterioration, with inner and outer fitments repeatedly flagged for edge wear, cuts, cracking, and perishing across the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 tests, culminating in a major failure in October 2022 for an inner sidewall cut reaching the ply or cords on the nearside rear. The 2023 test, recorded on 16 October, was a pass but issued three advisories all related to rear tyre condition at or near the legal tread limit, alongside a minor for a severely deteriorated offside front suspension arm ball joint dust cover. The trajectory across the five recorded tests is therefore mixed, with the most recent pass carrying more advisory weight than its clean 2022 outcome would initially suggest, and a structural defect in the rear tyre casing representing the only outright failure in the recorded period. The recorded mileage of 46,297 miles against an approximate ten year service life equates to roughly 4,600 miles per year, which is exceptionally low even for a commercial vehicle such as the Transit, where annual mileages of 15,000 to 25,000 are typical. Five MOT tests have been recorded at roughly annual intervals from late 2019 through late 2023, so there is no evidence of multi-year lay-up or extended non-use, yet the odometer is climbing at a rate far below the segment norm. Mechanically, this low accumulation places reduced wear on the engine, clutch, drivetrain, and main friction components, but it also raises the likelihood of age-related deterioration in seals, bushes, brake hydraulic systems, drive belts, coolant hoses, and the 12V battery, none of which are recorded in the MOT data but warrant specific inspection given the calendar age of the vehicle. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the rear axle area, since the repeated advisories for inner tyre wear on the same axle typically point to either a tracking or camber issue, worn rear suspension bushes, a sagging coil spring, or a bent rear axle stub. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the rear over uneven surfaces, feel for any lateral instability or wandering under load, and check whether the rear sits level rather than leaning toward one corner. The offside front ball joint dust cover flagged as severely deteriorated in 2023 should be inspected directly by rocking each front wheel at twelve and six o'clock to detect any play, and the front suspension as a whole should be examined for perished bushes, leaking dampers, and worn anti-roll bar drop links, as the combination of low mileage and ten years of service life allows rubber components to harden and crack regardless of distance covered. The braking system deserves close scrutiny because the 2020 test recorded advisories for worn front brake pads and pitted or scored front brake discs, and the 2023 test notes further deterioration is plausible given the intervening three year gap. Check for any judder through the steering wheel or brake pedal under firm application, indicating disc warping, and listen for any grinding or scraping that would suggest pads have worn to backing plate. Inspect the brake pipes, flexible hoses, and calipers for corrosion or weeping, particularly around the rear where the Transit is known for seized caliper slide pins, and confirm the handbrake holds firmly on an incline, as rear drum or caliper mechanisms on lightly used vehicles frequently bind or fail to self-adjust. Finally, examine the bulkhead, inner wings, and subframe mounting points for surface corrosion, given that Transits of this generation are prone to rust in these areas, and verify that all warning lights, mirrors, and lighting functions operate correctly to avoid the kind of driver-view obstruction advisory recorded in 2019.