2004 Ford Transit 2.4L Diesel · WA52 TEX

A 2004 Ford Transit with this mileage profile is, from a roadworthiness perspective, fundamentally defined by a recurring cluster of advisories around the front steering and braking hardware rather than by a single dramatic failure. The vehicle passed its most recent examination on 23 October 2025, but the test sheet shows a worsening rather than stable pattern in those areas. The offside front steering rack inner joint has been flagged for play on three consecutive tests from 2021 through 2025, and a nearside front track rod end ball joint with slight play was newly noted at the latest test. Brake pipe corrosion, sometimes described as grease-covered, has appeared at four of the seven recorded tests between 2019 and 2023, and the front suspension ball joint dust cover on the nearside side is now recorded as severely deteriorated. The only outright failure, on 23 September 2020, was a straightforward Offside Front Position lamp not working, which is not itself structurally concerning, but it coincided with several advisories that have lingered in subsequent years. Against a 22 year lifespan, the recorded 171,367 miles equates to roughly 7,789 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a working van of this vintage and rules out extended periods of standing as a primary concern. The testing record itself is dense and reasonably continuous from 2019 onward, suggesting the vehicle has been in regular use and presented for test each year, rather than parked up and brought out only for sale. That said, typical commercial mileage of this magnitude means that wear items such as suspension bushes, brake discs and pads, wheel bearings and clutch components will have been subjected to genuine working loads over many years, and the recorded advisories are consistent with that level of use. There are no large unexplained gaps in the MOT history that would imply an extended lay-up followed by a sudden return to the road. A prospective buyer should treat the steering and front suspension items as the priority for physical inspection. The recurring play in the steering rack inner joint and the newly noted track rod end play mean that on a test drive the vehicle should be checked for any wandering at speed, looseness around the straight-ahead position, or a clunk transmitted through the steering wheel when turning from lock to lock over a rough surface. The severely deteriorated ball joint dust cover on the nearside front lower suspension arm is a clear warning that the joint itself may be approaching the end of its service life; listen for a knock from the front suspension when traversing speed humps or potholes, and visually inspect the arm and bush for any perishing, splitting or movement under load with the wheel jacked. Given the persistent brake pipe corrosion advisories across multiple years, the underbody should be examined with a torch for any surface rust, pitting or active seepage along the front and rear brake lines, with particular attention to unions and flex-to-rigid joints, and the pedal should feel firm and progressive without any sponginess under hard braking. The remaining advisories are lower priority but still worth addressing during a pre-purchase inspection. The offside rear inner tyre noted as worn close to the legal limit in 2021 should be confirmed as having been replaced since, and the front nearside tyre recorded as slightly damaged or perishing at the latest test should be inspected for cracking of the sidewall or tread. The transmission oil leak noted at the rear of the transmission in 2020 should be rechecked for any fresh seepage on the underside, as a steady drip rather than a damp coating would suggest the seal has deteriorated further. Finally, the minor windscreen damage and the previously noted deteriorated number plates, mirror and rear position lamp issues are cosmetic in nature, but a walk around with the lights and indicators operating is worthwhile to confirm full function, as the 2020 failure shows that basic lighting defects have historically been an issue. With those specific checks carried out, the underlying record suggests a vehicle that has remained testable year on year, but whose steering and braking hardware are clearly approaching the point at which proactive replacement would be prudent.