2016 Ford Transit Courier 1.5L Diesel · MT66 VBU

The current MOT certificate, issued on 29 September 2025 at 87,449 miles, confirms a pass status with only a minor advisory for the offside front tyre approaching its legal wear limit. This outcome represents a marked improvement over the preceding test on 17 September 2025, where the vehicle failed with a fractured offside rear coil spring, excessively worn suspension ball joints, and multiple tyres worn to the legal limit. The maintenance trend over the last two years shows a clear pattern of neglect followed by reactive repair. The 2024 failure for an inoperative engine MIL and a worn nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint suggests a recurring issue with basic suspension component wear that was addressed only when it became a test failure point. The immediate re-test pass in September 2025 indicates the critical safety items were rectified, but the history points to a vehicle that has been run to the point of failure rather than maintained proactively. The mileage progression is consistent and unremarkable for a light commercial vehicle of this age. The recorded 87,449 miles in September 2025, up from 83,768 miles in July 2024 and 74,778 miles in July 2023, indicates an average annual distance of roughly 8,700 to 9,000 miles. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden drops in the odometer readings, and the accumulation pattern suggests steady, typical use without prolonged periods of standing. The tight mileage band between the September 2025 fail and pass tests, just two miles apart, confirms the re-test was conducted promptly after repairs. This is a clean, linear mileage record with no anomalies to suggest tampering or long-term disuse that could mask deterioration in seals, hoses, or brake components. A prospective buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and steering components, given the repeated failures for worn lower suspension arm ball joints in both 2024 and 2025. Check for play in the front wheel bearings and track rod ends, and inspect the condition of the replacement ball joints for correct seating and any signs of premature wear. The fractured offside rear coil spring flagged in the September 2025 failure is a serious structural defect that demands a close visual check of the replacement spring and its seating pans for cracks or corrosion. Examine the rear suspension bushes and shock absorbers for oil misting or deterioration, as a broken spring often points to a system that has endured repeated overloading or poor road surfaces without attention. The repeated appearance of tyres worn to the legal limit on the front axle, noted in both the 2025 fail and pass tests, suggests the front wheel alignment or tracking may be out of specification, causing uneven edge wear. Have the front toe and camber checked before purchase. The inoperative engine MIL lamp, a failure point in both 2024 and 2025, raises a concern about whether the underlying fault was repaired or simply masked by disconnecting the bulb or clearing codes. A diagnostic scan for stored fault codes and readiness monitors is essential to verify the engine management system is functioning correctly. While the current MOT is valid, the failure history indicates a vehicle that has required repeated intervention on safety-critical items, and a thorough independent inspection of the suspension, steering, and engine diagnostics is strongly advised before committing to purchase.