Ford Transit Courier: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Ford Transit Courier passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK vehicle, by 2.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 27,407 individual Ford Transit Courier tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate78.8%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+2.1 points
Tests analysed27,407
Average mileage at test76,490 miles
Average year of manufacture2018
Reliability rank1,486 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 78.8% first-time pass rate means roughly 21 in every 100 Ford Transit Couriers presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Ford Transit Courier tested had covered 76,490 miles and was built around 2018.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Ford Transit Courier sits 2.1 points above the national average, ranked 1,486 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

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 Courier 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 Couriers at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Ford Transit Courier

  1. Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit, 1.1% of tests (4.18x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.9% of tests (2.83x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, 1.6% of tests (1.74x the national rate for this defect)
  4. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 2.1% of tests (1.72x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2% of tests (1.59x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.5% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 2.6% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.1% of tests (1.23x the national rate for this defect)
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.2% of tests
  10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.5% of tests

From 27,397 DVSA-tracked Ford Transit Courier tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.91% of these flagged Ford Transit Courier 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 Courier

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 Courier before it actually fails on it.

  1. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.7% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 35% of tests (1.31x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 7.7% of tests
  4. A tyre seriously damaged, 7.3% of tests
  5. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 5.6% of tests
  6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 3.3% of tests
  7. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.9% of tests, also fails
  8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.6% of tests
  9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 2.5% of tests
  10. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.9% of tests

From 27,397 DVSA-tracked Ford Transit Courier tests, 2024.

Ford Transit Courier pass rate by model year

From its 2014 to its 2021 model year, the Ford Transit Courier's first-time pass rate has risen 16 points, from 69.2% to 85.2%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Ford Transit Courier year:

Ford Transit Courier by fuel type

The Ford Transit Courier's two most-tested fuel types split by 4.5 points: diesel passes first time 78.7% of the time (23,843 tests) against 83.2% for petrol (3,415 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 Courier MOT pass rate badge: 78.8%

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Ford Transit Courier most common MOT failure: Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit (1.1% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate