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Ford Transit Courier reliability

E · Poor

MOT pass rates and common problems from 166,507 MOT tests of cars first registered 2014–2023.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
70.9%pass first time
−7.5 ptsvs typical car
Beats 7%of cars
166,507MOT tests

Verdict

The Ford Transit Courier passes its MOT first time on 70.9% of tests, 7.5 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (78.4%). That puts it ahead of 7% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2018 Transit Courier does best (beats 10% of cars) and the 2016 worst (beats 4%).

Of its engines, the 1.5 Diesel does best (beats 8%) and the 1.6 Diesel worst (beats 7%).

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics2.1×as often as a typical car
Visibility1.7×as often as a typical car
Brake lights6.0×as often as a typical car
Headlight bulbs & units2.5×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.

50%60%70%80%90%3456789101177%75%73%69%67%65%62%60%60%
Ford Transit CourierTypical 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.

2014
Beats 14%
2015
Beats 8%
2016
Beats 4%
2017
Beats 6%
2018
Beats 10%
2019
Beats 9%
2020
Beats 5%
2021
Beats 6%
2022
Beats 7%
2023
Beats 11%

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.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel2014–2023129,06171.0%Beats 8%E
1.6 Diesel2014–201721,28566.2%Beats 7%E
1.0 Petrol2017–202216,16176.2%Beats 4%E

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.

Exhaust: 3.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 4.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 15.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 4.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.4% 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.Lights: 15.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−8.0 ptsTyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.5 ptsBrakes: 4.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.4% 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.Brakes+0.3 ptsSuspension: 4.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.5 ptsExhaust: 3.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−1.7 ptsSuspension: 4.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 4.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.4% 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.Tyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 15.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 3.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 15.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−8.0 ptsTyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.5 ptsBrakes: 4.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.4% 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.Brakes+0.3 ptsSuspension: 4.5% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.5 ptsExhaust: 3.5% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−1.7 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Lights: 15.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 7.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

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

Lights & electrics
15.1% vs 7.1%
Tyres
7.0% vs 6.5%
Visibility
6.6% vs 4.0%
Suspension
4.5% vs 4.0%
Brakes
4.1% vs 4.4%
Emissions & leaks
3.5% vs 1.9%
Steering
1.2% vs 0.8%
Body & structure
1.1% vs 1.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.3% vs 0.5%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Brake lights 6.0× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Headlight bulbs & units 2.5× typical
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
  • Headlight aim 1.8× typical
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Windscreen wipers 1.6× typical
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Suspension ball joints 2.3× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Coil springs 1.8× typical
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k89%82%76%70%66%63%61%58%
Ford Transit CourierTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Brake lights6.4%1.1%6.0×
Headlight aim4.2%2.3%1.8×
Headlight bulbs & units3.6%1.4%2.5×
Tyre tread depth3.6%2.6%1.4×
Tyre damage & cracking3.5%3.6%1.0×
Windscreen wipers3.4%2.1%1.6×
Windscreen washers2.9%1.6%1.8×
Brake pads2.3%2.4%1.0×
Number plate lights2.1%1.1%2.0×
Coil springs2.0%1.1%1.8×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning60.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements41.7
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements35.7
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen33.1
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED32.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen28.6
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm22.0
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn20.8
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 Courier1 engine78.6% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel1,36778.6%Beats 11%E
2022 Ford Transit Courier2 engines78.8% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel4,96079.4%Beats 14%E
1.0 Petrol3,39578.1%Beats 2%E
2021 Ford Transit Courier2 engines77.9% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel7,24577.9%Beats 8%E
1.0 Petrol2,71377.9%Beats 2%E
2020 Ford Transit Courier2 engines75.0% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel9,33875.5%Beats 7%E
1.0 Petrol3,64173.6%Beats 3%E
2019 Ford Transit Courier2 engines74.7% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel19,96674.4%Beats 9%E
1.0 Petrol2,00678.6%Beats 7%E
2018 Ford Transit Courier2 engines73.6% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel22,01873.3%Beats 10%E
1.0 Petrol3,00575.8%Beats 6%E
2017 Ford Transit Courier3 engines70.0% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel23,24169.9%Beats 6%E
1.6 Diesel2,00568.9%Beats 4%E
1.0 Petrol1,40173.1%Beats 6%E
2016 Ford Transit Courier2 engines66.5% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel13,62867.2%Beats 6%E
1.6 Diesel7,12165.1%Beats 3%E
2015 Ford Transit Courier2 engines65.3% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel20,29264.4%Beats 7%E
1.6 Diesel9,85367.0%Beats 10%E
2014 Ford Transit Courier2 engines63.8% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Diesel7,00663.6%Beats 13%E
1.6 Diesel2,30664.4%Beats 15%E

FAQ

What is the Ford Transit Courier MOT pass rate?

70.9% of MOT tests on the Ford Transit Courier were passed first time, based on 166,507 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2014–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 78.4% of the time.

Is the Ford Transit Courier reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 7% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Ford Transit Courier year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2018 Transit Courier does best for its age and mileage: it beats 10% of cars on UK roads. The 2016 does worst: it beats 4%.

Which Ford Transit Courier engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.5 Diesel does best: it beats 8% of cars on UK roads. The 1.6 Diesel does worst: it beats 7%.

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

The most common failure items are brake lights, headlight aim, headlight bulbs & units. Compared with similar cars, brake lights comes up 6.0× 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.