Ford Transit Connect Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Ford Transit Connect passes its MOT first time on 62.4% of tests, 4.1 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (66.6%). That puts it ahead of 30% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2014 Transit Connect does best (beats 54% of cars) and the 2020 worst (beats 5%).

Of its engines, the 1.6 Diesel does best (beats 49%) and the 1.5 Diesel worst (beats 26%).

Better than average on steering.

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.4×as often as a typical car

Body & structure2.1×as often as a typical car

Component mounting prescribed areas5.6×as often as a typical car

Brake lights1.8×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Ford Transit ConnectTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 41%

Beats 35%

Beats 32%

Beats 32%

Beats 26%

Beats 25%

Beats 26%

Beats 24%

Beats 20%

Beats 20%

Beats 23%

Beats 31%

Beats 54%

Beats 49%

Beats 45%

Beats 43%

Beats 26%

Beats 6%

Beats 5%

Beats 18%

Beats 11%

Beats 28%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	2002–2013	688,885	50.0%	Beats 27%	D
1.5 Diesel	2016–2023	422,774	76.0%	Beats 26%	D
1.6 Diesel	2013–2017	269,821	72.7%	Beats 49%	C
1.0 Petrol	2017–2019	5,734	76.5%	Beats 4%	E
1.8 Petrol	2004–2005	2,686	53.1%	Beats 55%	C

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Brakes: 12.4% of tests fail on brakes, against 8.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

17.9% vs 14.7%

Brakes

12.4% vs 8.8%

Suspension

11.3% vs 11.1%

Body & structure

9.2% vs 4.3%

Tyres

8.5% vs 7.6%

Visibility

7.5% vs 5.5%

Emissions & leaks

5.2% vs 4.1%

Seat belts & airbags

2.9% vs 1.5%

Steering

1.6% vs 2.4%

Wheels

0.5% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Brake lights 1.8× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Windscreen wipers 1.6× typical
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Handbrake performance 1.7× typical
Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
Exhaust system 1.9× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Ford Transit ConnectTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Brake lights	4.9%	2.7%	1.8×
Tyre damage & cracking	4.6%	3.9%	1.2×
Tyre tread depth	4.0%	3.4%	1.2×
Headlight aim	3.9%	4.1%	1.0×
Windscreen wipers	3.8%	2.4%	1.6×
Sidelights	3.8%	3.7%	1.0×
Component mounting prescribed areas	3.7%	0.7%	5.6×
Number plate lights	3.7%	2.0%	1.8×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	3.7%	1.7%	2.1×
Headlight bulbs & units	3.4%	2.8%	1.2×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	43.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	39.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	39.1
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired	38.8
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	37.8
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	37.3
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	36.3
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps	32.1

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 Ford Transit Connect1 engine80.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	3,653	80.5%	Beats 28%	D

2022 Ford Transit Connect1 engine78.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	9,351	78.4%	Beats 11%	E

2021 Ford Transit Connect1 engine79.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	30,812	79.4%	Beats 18%	E

2020 Ford Transit Connect1 engine75.3% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	41,001	75.3%	Beats 5%	E

2019 Ford Transit Connect2 engines73.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	68,964	73.3%	Beats 6%	E
1.0 Petrol	2,427	75.9%	Beats 1%	E

2018 Ford Transit Connect2 engines76.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	95,587	76.1%	Beats 27%	D
1.0 Petrol	1,318	77.2%	Beats 6%	E

2017 Ford Transit Connect3 engines76.7% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.5 Diesel	121,168	76.7%	Beats 43%	C
1.0 Petrol	1,989	76.8%	Beats 13%	E
1.6 Diesel	1,147	76.5%	Beats 41%	C

2016 Ford Transit Connect2 engines74.8% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	57,348	73.9%	Beats 39%	D
1.5 Diesel	52,238	75.9%	Beats 51%	C

2015 Ford Transit Connect1 engine73.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	115,955	73.5%	Beats 49%	C

2014 Ford Transit Connect1 engine71.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Diesel	93,302	71.0%	Beats 54%	C

2013 Ford Transit Connect2 engines63.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	38,200	63.6%	Beats 30%	D
1.6 Diesel	2,069	70.2%	Beats 61%	B

2012 Ford Transit Connect1 engine58.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	53,788	58.8%	Beats 23%	D

2011 Ford Transit Connect1 engine54.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	54,099	54.7%	Beats 20%	D

2010 Ford Transit Connect1 engine51.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	49,005	51.5%	Beats 20%	D

2009 Ford Transit Connect1 engine50.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	51,192	50.7%	Beats 24%	D

2008 Ford Transit Connect1 engine49.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	79,496	49.0%	Beats 26%	D

2007 Ford Transit Connect1 engine47.2% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	94,643	47.2%	Beats 25%	D

2006 Ford Transit Connect1 engine46.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	91,430	46.4%	Beats 26%	D

2005 Ford Transit Connect2 engines46.8% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	70,802	46.6%	Beats 32%	D
1.8 Petrol	1,278	53.6%	Beats 55%	C

2004 Ford Transit Connect2 engines45.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	58,783	45.3%	Beats 32%	D
1.8 Petrol	1,408	52.6%	Beats 54%	C

2003 Ford Transit Connect1 engine46.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	42,842	46.0%	Beats 35%	D

2002 Ford Transit Connect1 engine48.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.8 Diesel	4,605	48.0%	Beats 41%	C

FAQ

What is the Ford Transit Connect MOT pass rate?

62.4% of MOT tests on the Ford Transit Connect were passed first time, based on 1,389,900 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2002–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 66.6% of the time.

Is the Ford Transit Connect reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 30% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Ford Transit Connect year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2014 Transit Connect does best for its age and mileage: it beats 54% of cars on UK roads. The 2020 does worst: it beats 5%.

Which Ford Transit Connect engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.6 Diesel does best: it beats 49% of cars on UK roads. The 1.5 Diesel does worst: it beats 26%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Ford Transit Connect?

The most common failure items are brake lights, tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth. Compared with similar cars, component mounting prescribed areas comes up 5.6× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Ford Transit Connect reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ