2013 Ford Transit 2.2L Diesel · LL13 XRF

A pattern of chronic advisories surrounding the braking system, suspension linkages, and oil leaks defines this Transit’s MOT record, with the most recent attempt on 12 August 2025 resulting in a pass only after a prior fail four days earlier on 8 August 2025. The August 2025 failure was attributable to a nearside rear outer tyre carrying a cut deep enough to expose the ply or cords, a defect that was clearly addressed before the retest. What is more telling is the consistency of the advisory list across consecutive tests: the oil leak not considered excessive has appeared on every recorded test since at least 2022, brake efficiency has been flagged as only just meeting the required level on each occasion, and the front anti-roll bar pin or bush wear was noted in both 2025 tests. The 2024 test additionally recorded both front suspension arm pins or bushes as worn and corrosion at the offside seat belt anchorage sill, neither of which was considered excessive at that stage. Taken together, the record does not present a clean bill of health; it presents a vehicle that has been passing largely on tolerance, with multiple wear items sitting close to the threshold of failure. With 346,559 miles accumulated over approximately thirteen years, this Transit averages around 26,600 miles per year, a figure considerably higher than typical for a passenger car and consistent with sustained commercial or fleet use. The MOT history is relatively condensed, with tests recorded in 2022, 2024, and 2025, and no entry for 2023, suggesting either an exemption year, a change in testing obligation, or a period during which the vehicle may have been operating under a different status. The mileage progression between recorded tests cannot be precisely quantified from the data supplied, but the high annualised figure alone implies significant duty cycle on the drivetrain, clutch, braking components, suspension, and tyres. For a vehicle of this age and workload, consumable wear is expected to be advanced, and the recurring advisories on bushes, leaf spring shackles, and brake efficiency are entirely consistent with that usage profile. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the front anti-roll bar linkages, both front suspension arm pins or bushes, and the rear leaf spring shackle pins and bushes, all of which have been flagged in recent years. On a test drive, listen for clonking or rattling over uneven surfaces and speed bumps, particularly from the front end, which would suggest the anti-roll bar drop links or bushes have deteriorated beyond the advisory stage. Steering vagueness or a clunk when turning at low speed can also point to worn anti-roll bar components. Inspect the rear leaf springs visually for cracked, sagging, or shifted spring packs, and check that the shackle pins sit squarely in their bushes without excessive lateral movement. The recurring oil leak advisory warrants a thorough under-bonnet inspection; look for fresh oil residue on the engine block, sump, and surrounding components, and check the underside for wet patches or staining on the subframe and bellhousing, as a leak that was merely not excessive in 2022 may have progressed. Brake performance has been a borderline issue at every recorded test, with service brake efficiency repeatedly described as only just meeting requirements. On the road, this should manifest as longer stopping distances, a spongy or low pedal, or excessive pedal travel, particularly when the brakes are hot after a sustained application. Pulling to one side under braking, vibration through the pedal, or a binding sensation after release would indicate seized caliper slides or warped or excessively worn discs and pads, which would need measurement against the manufacturer’s wear limits. Given that the 2024 test also recorded corrosion at the offside seat belt anchorage sill, the underside should be examined carefully for any progression of rust, particularly around the sill seams, jacking points, outriggers, and suspension mounting areas. Finally, inspect all four tyres closely for cuts, cracking, and uneven wear patterns, as the recent failure for a nearside rear tyre cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords demonstrates how easily a borderline tyre can tip into a fail.