2016 Ford Transit MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 67.4% of Ford Transits first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. Across 123,154 Transit first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, body, chassis and structure and brakes.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford Transits first used in 2016 (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 2016 Ford Transit MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Transits first used in 2016 against all cars first used in 2016 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Transit figure was 7.5 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2016 Transit | All cars first used 2016 | Transit first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76.9% | 82.7% | 42,516 |
| 2022 | 74.6% | 80.9% | 42,033 |
| 2023 | 71.4% | 78.6% | 41,573 |
| 2024 | 68.3% | 76.7% | 41,163 |
| 2025 | 67.4% | 74.9% | 40,418 |
Common 2016 Ford Transit MOT failures
Share of the 38,130 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 26.1% | 9,958 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 13.0% | 4,969 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 9.3% | 3,555 |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | 8.7% | 3,302 |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | 8.3% | 3,152 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Transit in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2016 Ford Transit 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.
- Body and underside. Worth looking underneath with a torch at the sills, floor and mountings for corrosion, and at the rubber boots on the drive shafts for splits.
- Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.
Common 2016 Ford Transit MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2016 Transits, as a share of all 123,154 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 18.6% | 22,905 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 14.2% | 17,531 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 14.0% | 17,285 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 13.4% | 16,500 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 11.1% | 13,727 |
Questions about the 2016 Ford Transit MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Ford Transit?
In 2025, 67.4% of Transits first used in 2016 passed their MOT first time, against 74.9% for all cars first used in 2016. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2016 Transit most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 33.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), body, chassis and structure (30.5%) and brakes (29.4%). The single most common item was “Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” (26.1%).
How often does a 2016 Ford Transit fail its MOT?
In 2025, 32.6% of first tests on Transits first used in 2016 did not pass first time: 27.3% failed, and a further 5.3% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 38,130 of 123,154 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2016 Ford Transit MOT advisories?
“Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (on 18.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material” (14.2%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (14.0%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (13.4%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (11.1%).
Is a 2016 Ford Transit 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 76.9% in 2021 to 67.4% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2016
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2016 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2016 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2016 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2016 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2016 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2016 Transit?
The numbers above cover every Transit first used in 2016 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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