2018 Ford Transit Courier MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 69.8% of Ford Transit Couriers first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 12,987 Transit Courier first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, tyres and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).
This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford Transit Couriers first used in 2018 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2018 Ford Transit Courier MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Transit Couriers first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Transit Courier figure was 11.1 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2018 Transit Courier | All cars first used 2018 | Transit Courier first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78.6% | 87.6% | 4,441 |
| 2022 | 77.9% | 86.3% | 4,421 |
| 2023 | 75.2% | 84.2% | 4,419 |
| 2024 | 71.7% | 82.5% | 4,335 |
| 2025 | 69.8% | 80.9% | 4,233 |
Common 2018 Ford Transit Courier MOT failures
Share of the 3,602 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Stop lamp: not working | 25.4% | 915 |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | 12.5% | 451 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 10.4% | 374 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 8.2% | 297 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | 6.5% | 235 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2018 Ford Transit Courier before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
- Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.
Common 2018 Ford Transit Courier MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Transit Couriers, as a share of all 12,987 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 19.8% | 2,575 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 6.5% | 847 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 4.6% | 601 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 4.4% | 574 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 2.8% | 359 |
Questions about the 2018 Ford Transit Courier MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Ford Transit Courier?
In 2025, 69.8% of Transit Couriers first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2018 Transit Courier most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 55.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (23.3%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (19.4%). The single most common item was “Stop lamp: not working” (25.4%).
How often does a 2018 Ford Transit Courier fail its MOT?
In 2025, 30.2% of first tests on Transit Couriers first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 21.2% failed, and a further 9.1% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,602 of 12,987 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2018 Ford Transit Courier MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 19.8% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (6.5%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (4.6%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (4.4%) and “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (2.8%).
Is a 2018 Ford Transit Courier reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 78.6% in 2021 to 69.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2018
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2018 Transit Courier?
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