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MOT fail rates by first-use year

2018 Ford Transit Custom MOT fail rate and common faults

How Ford Transit Custom cars first used in 2018 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 112,495 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.

MOT data updated

At 7 years, tested in 2025

MOT fail rate at age 7 (n=27,838)24.8%
All cars at 7 years (n=10,537,318)20.6%
Difference+4.2 pts
MOT tests of 2018 cars, 2022 to 2025112,495

What stands out

  • In 2025, at 7 years old, Ford Transit Custom cars first used in 2018 failed 24.8% of MOTs (27,838 tests), 4.2 points above the 20.6% for all cars that age.
  • From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 4 to 7 years old, the fail rate moved from 19.5% to 24.8%.
  • The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Ford Transit Custom at 7 years, is driveshaft CV boot split, at 2.2 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 0.6).

MOT fail rate by test year

Ford Transit Custom cars first used in 2018: share of MOT tests that failed, by test year, against all cars of the same age. Years with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
Test yearAgeMOT fail rateTests (n)All carsDifference
20224 years19.5%28,32913.4%+6.1 pts
20235 years21.6%28,21215.3%+6.3 pts
20246 years23.3%28,11617.8%+5.5 pts
20257 years24.8%27,83820.6%+4.2 pts

Most common faults at 7 years

These figures cover all Ford Transit Custom MOTs at 7 years: cars first used 2015 to 2018, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=28,576). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.

MOT fail items

Fail itemPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Dipped headlight not working Wear3.50.9
Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear2.72.0
Wipers not clearing screen Wear2.41.7
Brake light not working Wear2.30.9
Driveshaft CV boot split2.20.6
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Wear1.90.6
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.60.1
Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear1.42.2
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Wear1.41.3
Washers: not working Wear1.20.5

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=28,576). A test with two items counts once for each.

Advisories

AdvisoryPer 100 MOTsAll cars
Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear13.015.0
Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material10.80.9
Brake pads wearing thin Wear10.79.0
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened9.48.0
Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement8.03.0
Windscreen: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view6.91.9
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear6.98.9
Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear5.21.4
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive4.61.4
Brake discs: worn, but not excessively4.02.6

Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=28,576). A test with two items counts once for each.

Fuel type at 7 years

These figures cover all Ford Transit Custom MOTs at 7 years: cars first used 2015 to 2018, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=28,576). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

FuelShare of testsMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars, same fuelMedian mileage
Diesel100.0%24.9%28,57622.1%86,760 miles

Fail rate by mileage at 7 years

These figures cover all Ford Transit Custom MOTs at 7 years: cars first used 2015 to 2018, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=28,576). At 7 years, Ford Transit Custom cars at over 150,000 miles failed more often (28.8%, n=2,171) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (17.8%, n=5,201). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.

Mileage at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
30,000 to 60,000 miles17.8%5,20119.2%
60,000 to 90,000 miles24.7%9,32424.2%
90,000 to 120,000 miles28.5%7,38328.0%
120,000 to 150,000 miles29.7%3,67629.0%
Over 150,000 miles28.8%2,17128.3%

Car tax rules for a 2018 car

  • Cars first registered from 1 April 2017 pay a first-year rate set by CO2 emissions, then the standard rate each year. A petrol, diesel or hybrid car with a list price over £40,000 also pays the expensive car supplement for five years, from the second tax payment.

These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check

ULEZ and clean air zones

  • Diesel cars first registered from September 2015 usually meet Euro 6, the diesel standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
  • The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.

The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker

Other years of the Ford Transit Custom

Other Ford models first used in 2018

ModelAge at testMOT fail rateTests (n)All cars
Ford Transit (2018)7 years in 202528.7%18,65120.6%
Ford Transit Connect (2018)7 years in 202525.3%16,26520.6%

More on the Ford Transit Custom

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

These figures describe 2018 Ford Transit Custom cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.

See an example Buying Report All car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources

Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.