2016 Ford Transit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 252,102 MOT tests analysed for the 2016 Ford Transit, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 81.2% was in line with the average for vans of a similar age (80.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 22.2% in the 150k+ group versus 8.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 19,263 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.7% | 16,851 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 15,150 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.6% | 14,193 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.1% | 10,435 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.0% | 10,180 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 15,901 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 9,185 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 8,877 |
| 4 | Wipers | 7,808 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 7,056 |
| 6 | Washers | 6,624 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.3% | 78,924 |
| 2 | Tyres | 21.2% | 53,428 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.2% | 48,499 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.5% | 24,021 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 22,232 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.1% | 15,368 |
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 | 8,136 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 50,305 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 76,775 | 18.5% |
| 90-120k | 60,123 | 20.8% |
| 120-150k | 33,239 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 23,439 | 22.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 252,065 | 18.8% |
| Petrol | 36 | 27.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 49,589 | 15.0% |
| 2022 | 49,959 | 16.8% |
| 2023 | 50,674 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 51,229 | 21.2% |
| 2025 | 50,651 | 21.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Transit
Before buying a 2016 Ford Transit, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2016 Ford Transits pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 252,102 2016 Ford Transit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ford Transit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by brakes (6.7%).
Does the 2016 Transit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 22.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 252,102 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.