Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb reliable?

Based on MOT data from 236 vehicles, the 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb has a first-time MOT pass rate of 58.8%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ford Transit 280 Swb (2004)

236 real MOT outcomes analysed • 58.8% first-time pass rate

2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb

CarHunch analysed 236 real MOT records for the 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Limited data for this trim variant. The DVLA records this vehicle under a specific trim-level name with only 236 vehicles on record — some statistics may not be reliable at this sample size.

See the full 2004 FORD TRANSIT (57,894 vehicles)

We have limited data for the 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

58.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.25

Over 1.4 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

151k

Middle half: 129k–169k

For context

These stats describe 236 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 236 Ford Transit 280 Swb cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb

Based on MOT data from 236 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 936 Ford Transit 280 Swb vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 65.5%

613

Blue 13.4%

125

Silver 9.9%

Red 8.4%

Grey 2.8%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

151,283

typical

128,626

low mileage

169,017

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb vehicles fall between 128,626 and 169,017 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 128,626 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 128,626–169,017 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swbs sit.

⚠ Over 228,172 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swbs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (23% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2021.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

1.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.25

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Transit 280 Swb: All Transit 280 Swb years → Which year to buy? →

2005 2006

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Ford Transit 280 Swb stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on