Ford Transit 150 Swb (1997)
1997 Ford Transit 150 Swb
CarHunch analysed 110 real MOT records for the 1997 Ford Transit 150 Swb. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 1997 Ford Transit 150 SWB is a genuinely worrying proposition: only 40% pass first time against the UK average of 80%, and with a median CarHunch score of 50, these vans are flaky by definition. The good news is that dangerous defects are absent from this dataset, so while they fail MOT, they're not failing on safety-critical items.
At nearly 159,000 miles median, these are well-used work vehicles, and the low failure count (0.05 per vehicle) suggests that when they do fail, it's usually something minor and fixable rather than systemic rot. If you're buying one, budget for an immediate pre-purchase inspection and expect to spend money on repairs before it'll pass—but don't assume the structure is compromised.
What to check before buying a 1997 Ford Transit 150 Swb
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Ford Transit 150 Swb
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Mileage Distribution
Most 1997 Ford Transit 150 Swb vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1997 Ford Transit 150 Swb vehicles fall between 158,991 and 158,991 miles.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Ford Transit 150 Swb?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.