2020 Ford Transit Connect — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 39,220 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Ford Transit Connect, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 84.5% was below the average for vans of a similar age (85.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 19.5% in the 150k+ group versus 11.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 2,851 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 2,201 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.1% | 1,989 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 1,807 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.8% | 1,503 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 374 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,760 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,699 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 1,674 |
| 4 | Wipers | 1,511 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 1,294 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,193 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.7% | 9,704 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 6,750 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.7% | 3,016 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.9% | 2,693 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 1,279 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 1,124 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 8,127 | 11.1% |
| 30-60k | 15,368 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 10,148 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,019 | 18.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,193 | 18.4% |
| 150k+ | 364 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,361 | 15.5% |
| Petrol | 859 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 477 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 12,674 | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 13,048 | 16.2% |
| 2025 | 13,003 | 16.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Transit Connect
Before buying a 2020 Ford Transit Connect, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (5.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Ford Transit Connects pass their MOT?
84.5% of the 39,220 2020 Ford Transit Connect MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Transit Connect?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2020 Transit Connect get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 0-30k band to 19.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 39,220 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.