2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 78.4% of Ford Transit Customs first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. Across 84,673 Transit Custom first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) and tyres.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford Transit Customs first used in 2021 (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 2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Transit Customs first used in 2021 against all cars first used in 2021 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Transit Custom figure was 8.8 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2021 Transit Custom | All cars first used 2021 | Transit Custom first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | fewer than 500 tests | 82.9% | 10 |
| 2022 | fewer than 500 tests | 89.9% | 42 |
| 2023 | 81.6% | 90.8% | 948 |
| 2024 | 76.4% | 87.6% | 42,171 |
| 2025 | 78.4% | 87.2% | 41,554 |
Common 2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT failures
Share of the 19,101 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 25.9% | 4,945 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 11.9% | 2,264 |
| Headlamp aim: too high | 11.2% | 2,144 |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam | 9.8% | 1,881 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 7.9% | 1,517 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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What to check on a 2021 Ford Transit Custom 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.
- 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.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Common 2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2021 Transit Customs, as a share of all 84,673 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 10.6% | 8,987 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 10.6% | 8,959 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 4.1% | 3,432 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | 3.5% | 2,945 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | 3.3% | 2,764 |
Questions about the 2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2021 Ford Transit Custom?
In 2025, 78.4% of Transit Customs first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2021 Transit Custom most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 38.1% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (36.6%) and tyres (23.3%). The single most common item was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively” (25.9%).
How often does a 2021 Ford Transit Custom fail its MOT?
In 2025, 21.6% of first tests on Transit Customs first used in 2021 did not pass first time: 15.1% failed, and a further 6.5% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 19,101 of 84,673 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT advisories?
“Brake pads: wearing thin” (on 10.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (10.6%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (4.1%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (3.5%) and “Brake discs: worn, but not excessively” (3.3%).
Is a 2021 Ford Transit Custom 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 81.6% in 2023 to 78.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2021
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2021 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2021 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT statistics · 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT statistics · 2021 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2021 Transit Custom?
The numbers above cover every Transit Custom first used in 2021 and tested in Great Britain. Our free check shows the actual MOT history, mileage record and tax status of the one you are looking at.
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