2009 Ford Transit 2.4L Diesel · SA09 KBV

At 266,797 miles over seventeen years, this Ford Transit presents a roadworthiness picture dominated by chronic advisories around the front suspension, brake system, and corrosion, with three MOT failures recorded in the available history. The 2026 test produced a pass, but it carried forward unresolved items from the previous year, including the nearside front lower ball joint dust cover deterioration, which has now appeared at two consecutive tests, and an oil leak described as not excessive. The most serious mechanical findings relate to the braking system: a 2025 failure for parking brake efficiency below requirements and an inoperative offside rear parking brake, accompanied by advisories for fluctuating front service brake performance and worn, pitted front brake discs. A 2024 failure for an inoperative engine MIL indicator suggests an emissions or engine management fault that was present at that test, and a 2020 failure included multiple inoperative marker and position lamps alongside a missing fuel cap. Taken together, the pattern is one of a working vehicle that repeatedly requires remedial work to remain compliant, with braking, suspension, and lighting the recurring areas of concern. The recorded mileage of 266,797 miles over seventeen years equates to roughly 15,700 miles annually, which is high for a vehicle of this age and consistent with sustained commercial or heavy-duty use rather than light private mileage. This level of annual accumulation places above-average demand on wear components, particularly the braking system, suspension bushes and ball joints, steering linkages, and drivetrain mounts. There is a notable three-year gap between the 2021 and 2024 tests with no recorded MOT history, which may indicate a period off the road, a change of keeper without testing, or an exemption from testing during that interval, and this should be verified through the V5C and any gap in MOT coverage. The high accumulated mileage, combined with the recurring nature of advisories on consumable components, points to a vehicle that has seen significant mechanical wear over its service life. A prospective buyer should focus the physical inspection on the specific components flagged in the MOT record, beginning with the front suspension. The nearside front lower ball joint dust cover has been recorded as severely deteriorated at both 2025 and 2026 tests, and a 2024 advisory noted wear to a lower suspension arm pin or bush. On a test drive, listen for knocking or clonking noises from the front end over speed humps, rough surfaces, and during full-lock turns, and check for uneven or excessive tyre wear on the inside shoulders, which often accompanies perished ball joint boots and worn suspension linkages. The offside front binding service brake noted in 2024 warrants close attention, so test for pulling to one side under firm braking, any grinding or scraping sounds, and a spongy or uneven pedal feel, while also inspecting the front brake discs for visible lipping, corrosion, or scoring. The braking and underbody corrosion advisories should be examined methodically before purchase. Brake pipe corrosion was flagged on the nearside front in both 2020 and 2021, and on the offside rear in 2020, so the underside should be inspected on a ramp for crusty or weeping brake lines, paying particular attention to the rear runs where road salt and debris accumulate. The parking brake failure in 2025 means the handbrake should be tested on a steep incline to confirm it holds without excessive travel, and the rear calipers or drums checked for seized mechanisms. The nearside front outer seat belt anchorage corrosion advisory from both 2020 and 2024 indicates progressive sill corrosion, which warrants a close look at the inner and outer sills, jacking points, and seat belt mountings for structural integrity. The persistent oil leak advisory from 2026, the inoperative engine MIL from 2024, and the slight headlamp lens defects recorded across multiple tests round out a profile where a thorough pre-purchase inspection, ideally with the vehicle raised, would be strongly advisable given the combination of high mileage, multiple advisories, and three recorded failures.