2013 Ford Transit 2.2L Diesel · RR12 RAP

The 2013 Ford Transit passed its most recent MOT on 5 August 2025 at 169,251 miles, but the record reveals a maintenance pattern that is stable at best and quietly deteriorating in key structural areas. The vehicle has never failed an MOT outright, yet the advisory list has remained stubbornly consistent across multiple test cycles. Corrosion and wear items keep reappearing rather than being permanently resolved, suggesting previous owners have kept the van roadworthy to the minimum legal threshold rather than addressing underlying deterioration. The most recent test flagged slight play in the offside front wheel bearing, slight underbody rust, and a corroded wheel arch, all of which point to age-related decline that is progressing gradually. At roughly 13,019 miles per year, this Transit has led a hard working life. The mileage accumulation is steady and consistent, with no suspicious gaps or sudden drops that would suggest odometer tampering or prolonged storage. Between November 2020 and January 2023 the van covered approximately 35,000 miles in just over two years, then added another 22,600 miles by January 2024, before climbing to 169,251 by August 2025. That final jump of roughly 11,600 miles in 19 months is a slower rate, which may indicate reduced use in its most recent period. The MOT history itself is reasonably well documented with tests recorded in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, though the gap between November 2021 and January 2023 is notable and worth clarifying with the seller. The recurring theme across this record is corrosion, particularly in the brake pipe network. Corroded brake pipes appeared in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024, each time noted as covered in grease or other material, which strongly suggests the pipes were treated cosmetically rather than replaced. A buyer should have the entire brake pipe run inspected underneath with the wheels removed, paying close attention to the areas around the ABS pump and along the chassis rails where moisture and road salt accumulate. Suspension arm bushes have also worn repeatedly on both front corners, appearing in 2020 and 2023, indicating these are being replaced on a cyclical basis rather than as part of a comprehensive front-end overhaul. The offside front wheel bearing has shown slight play in both 2023 and 2025, so a buyer should check for roughness or noise on a test drive and budget for replacement if any play is detected. Beyond the flagged items, the underbody rust and wheel arch corrosion noted in the August 2025 test deserve close physical inspection. Surface corrosion on a 13 year old commercial van is expected, but structural corrosion on load bearing points, cross members, or suspension mounting areas would be a different matter entirely. The windscreen damage appearing in both 2021 and 2023 suggests the screen has been replaced or repaired at least once, which is worth verifying. Tyre wear appearing unevenly on the nearside in 2023 hints at possible tracking or suspension geometry issues that may have recurred. A thorough underside inspection, a brake system pressure test, and a proper four wheel alignment check would give a buyer the clearest picture of whether this Transit has been genuinely maintained or merely kept passing its MOT year after year.