Ford Transit 190 Lwb (1997)
1997 Ford Transit 190 Lwb
CarHunch is tracking 3,345 1997 Ford Transit 190 Lwb vehicles on UK roads. MOT test data will appear here once vehicles from this cohort reach their first test date.
This 1997 Transit 190 LWB is deeply unreliable by any standard: only 30% pass their MOT first time, compared to the UK average of 80%, and the diesel variants that make up virtually all examples fare no better at 30%. The good news is that dangerous defects are virtually non-existent at 0%, so while these vehicles will need work, they're not actively unsafe.
At nearly 116,000 miles on average, these Transits have genuinely high mileage for their age, yet they're racking up surprises rather than predictable wear—the low failure count (0.01 per vehicle) masks a pattern of catching unexpected issues at test time. If you're buying one, budget heavily for pre-purchase inspection by a specialist who knows old Transits, because the MOT data suggests most have hidden problems that first-time testers expose.
We have 3,345 1997 Ford Transit 190 Lwb vehicles on record but don't have enough MOT test data to show reliable statistics for this cohort.
What to check before buying a 1997 Ford Transit 190 Lwb
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 190 Lwb
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (99%) | 3,317 | 0.3% | 0.01 |
| Petrol (1%) | 26 | 0% | 0 |
| Gas Diesel (0%) | 2 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1997 Ford Transit 190 Lwb 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 190 Lwb vehicles fall between 92,987 and 130,533 miles.
Found a specific Ford Transit 190 Lwb?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.