Ford TRANSIT - 1997
420.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford TRANSIT, model year 1997.
Sample size: 1,276 cars, 2,741 tests and 11,511 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 1,276 cars
The 1997 Ford Transit has a significantly higher overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 420 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 26% above the norm. Notably, this model performs worse in categories such as visibility, where its defect rate is 42% higher than average, and lights and electrics, which is nearly 60% worse. The body and structure also show a concerning trend, with defects at 149%, significantly exceeding the average of 79%. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with higher mileage, particularly in the highest category of over 124,000 miles, where defects reach 575 per 100 vehicles. Overall, while tyre wear may be common, the standout issues for this model lie in visibility and structural integrity.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 1,276 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 4.5% worse
147.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 12.4% better
24.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
Visibility
▼ 40.1% worse
35.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▼ 63.7% worse
107.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
- A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
- Beam image obviously incorrect
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 17.3% worse
294.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Body/Structure
▼ 77.3% worse
148.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 100 tests
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
Equipment
▲ 1.8% better
21.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 100 tests
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- Audible warning:
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▼ 0.5% worse
61.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Smoke opacity levels exceed default limit
- Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour to an extent likely to obscure the vision of other road users
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 724
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 640
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 614
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 587
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 557
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 523
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 396
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 370
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 349
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 315
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 614
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 291
Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
FAIL
Occurrences: 120
is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 112
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 105
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 103
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 88
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 85
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 80
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 76