Ford Transit Connect: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Ford Transit Connect fails its first MOT more often than the average UK vehicle, by 4.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 169,157 individual Ford Transit Connect tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate72%
UK national average76.7%
Difference-4.7 points
Tests analysed169,157
Average mileage at test101,985 miles
Average year of manufacture2014
Reliability rank1,705 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 72% first-time pass rate means roughly 28 in every 100 Ford Transit Connects presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Ford Transit Connect tested had covered 101,985 miles and was built around 2014.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Ford Transit Connect sits 4.7 points below the national average, ranked 1,705 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Ford Transit Connect rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Ford Transit Connects at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Ford Transit Connect

  1. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2.4% of tests (5.92x the national rate for this defect)
  2. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 4.8% of tests (5.11x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 3.1% of tests (2.88x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.4% of tests (2.22x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.5% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 3.6% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.5% of tests (1.86x the national rate for this defect)
  8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.7% of tests (1.73x the national rate for this defect)
  9. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.8% of tests (1.69x the national rate for this defect)
  10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.8% of tests (1.55x the national rate for this defect)

From 169,058 DVSA-tracked Ford Transit Connect tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.79% of these flagged Ford Transit Connect defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Ford Transit Connect

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Ford Transit Connect before it actually fails on it.

  1. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.4% of tests (2.72x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 16.6% of tests (2.69x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 1.8% of tests (2.15x the national rate for this advisory)
  4. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 3.2% of tests (2.11x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  5. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 11% of tests (1.98x the national rate for this advisory)
  6. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 2% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this advisory)
  7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4.3% of tests (1.63x the national rate for this advisory)
  8. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 14% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  9. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 37.6% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this advisory)
  10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 10.9% of tests

From 169,058 DVSA-tracked Ford Transit Connect tests, 2024.

Ford Transit Connect pass rate by model year

From its 2003 to its 2021 model year, the Ford Transit Connect's first-time pass rate has risen 27.8 points, from 57.1% to 84.9%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Ford Transit Connect year:

Ford Transit Connect by fuel type

The Ford Transit Connect's two most-tested fuel types split by 6.7 points: diesel passes first time 72.5% of the time (165,797 tests) against 79.2% for petrol (1,955 tests).

Other Ford models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this van is a salvage or write-off

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Ford Transit Connect MOT pass rate badge: 72%

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Ford Transit Connect most common MOT failure: Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced (2.4% of tests)

<a href="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/mot/ford-transit-connect"><img src="https://www.salvageprophet.co.uk/badge/failure/ford-transit-connect.svg" width="340" height="106" alt="Ford Transit Connect most common MOT failure: Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced (2.4% of tests) - Salvage Prophet"></a>

All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate