2009 Ford Transit Connect 1.8L Diesel · SJ59 LFE

The vehicle presents a mixed maintenance picture, with a recent pass in April 2026 at 87,519 miles masking a recurring exhaust leak that has persisted across two consecutive test cycles. The trend is neither clearly worsening nor resolving, as the same minor exhaust gas leak at the nearside rear silencer-to-centre-section joint appeared in both the 2025 and 2026 tests, suggesting a slow deterioration that has not yet reached a dangerous threshold but remains unresolved. A more concerning historical failure in April 2025 flagged significant structural corrosion on the nearside sill, which was repaired in time for a retest pass the same day, indicating the previous owner addressed a serious integrity issue rather than ignoring it. The recorded mileage of 87,519 miles over approximately 17 years equates to roughly 5,148 miles per year, which is notably low for a commercial van of this type. The MOT record shows a steady accumulation pattern, with the vehicle covering around 2,228 miles between the April 2024 and April 2025 tests, then approximately 5,407 miles between April 2025 and April 2026. That jump in the most recent year suggests either increased use or a correction of previously low annual mileage. The record itself is reasonably well-documented with consecutive annual tests, leaving no significant gaps that would raise odometer concerns. A buyer should pay close attention to the nearside rear exhaust joint, as the persistent leak across two tests points to a deteriorating gasket or cracked section that will eventually require replacement. The April 2025 failure for sill corrosion, even though repaired, warrants a thorough underbody inspection to confirm the repair quality and check for any recurrence of structural rust on both sills and the floor pan. Both front constant velocity joint boots were flagged as severely deteriorated and leaking in April 2025, so the driveshafts should be examined for play or contamination ingress that could lead to costly joint failure. The 2024 failure for an ABS warning lamp and worn front tyres indicates the braking system and wheel components should also be tested under load to verify the fault has not returned and that the braking system operates evenly without pulling or binding.