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Ford Transit steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 150,998 MOT tests · Updated

At 8 years, 1.5 in 100 MOT tests of the Ford Transit failed on steering, against 1.2 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 150,998 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 2,232 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 23 ages from 3 to 25 years, 1,227,954 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 8 years: 150,998 for the Ford Transit

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

1.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 8 years, against 1.2 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 8 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The Ford Transit is a commercial or van-based vehicle: it is compared with all class 4 vehicles, cars and vans together, so part of any difference can come from how vans are used.

Ford Transit steering fails by age

Ford Transit steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Ford Transit. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.0243 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 8,111 MOT tests34 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 25,830 MOT tests5 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 68,358 MOT tests56 years: 0.8 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 108,424 MOT tests7 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 141,008 MOT tests78 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 150,998 MOT tests9 years: 1.9 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 127,926 MOT tests910 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 102,413 MOT tests11 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 86,600 MOT tests1112 years: 4.0 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 74,075 MOT tests13 years: 4.6 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 65,207 MOT tests1314 years: 5.3 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 63,257 MOT tests15 years: 5.2 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 54,953 MOT tests1516 years: 4.9 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 43,690 MOT tests17 years: 4.4 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 32,260 MOT tests1718 years: 4.1 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 21,181 MOT tests19 years: 4.2 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 14,221 MOT tests1920 years: 4.0 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 10,758 MOT tests21 years: 3.9 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 8,517 MOT tests2122 years: 3.9 per 100 (all cars 4.0), 6,716 MOT tests23 years: 3.7 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 5,392 MOT tests2324 years: 2.7 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 4,256 MOT tests25 years: 2.1 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 3,803 MOT tests25
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Ford Transit All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
38,1110.30.1
425,8300.30.2
568,3580.50.3
6108,4240.80.5
7141,0081.00.8
8150,9981.51.2
9127,9261.91.8
10102,4132.32.1
1186,6003.22.5
1274,0754.02.8
1365,2074.62.9
1463,2575.33.2
1554,9535.23.3
1643,6904.93.4
1732,2604.43.6
1821,1814.13.9
19*14,2214.24.1
20*10,7584.04.2
21*8,5173.94.2
22*6,7163.94.0
23*5,3923.73.9
24*4,2562.73.7
25*3,8032.13.7

All first-use years of the Ford Transit pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 8 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 2.2 diesel: 1.6 per 100 at 8 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 97,898 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 diesel: 1.3 per 100 at 8 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 52,729 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Pipes and hoses: slightly corroded.

Check one Ford Transit, not the average

The figures here describe Ford Transit cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Ford Transit problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Ford Transit have more steering problems than other cars?

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 8 years, against 1.2 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 150,998 MOT tests).

How common are Ford Transit steering problems?

1.5 in 100 MOT tests at 8 years failed on steering, against 1.2 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 150,998 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 1,227,954 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare