Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td?

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 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td?

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 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td?

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 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,011 vehicles, the 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td has a first-time MOT pass rate of 61.5%, 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 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td?

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 350 Lwb Td (2002)

1,011 real MOT outcomes analysed • 61.5% first-time pass rate

2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td

CarHunch analysed 1,011 real MOT records for the 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2002 Ford Transit 350 is a profoundly unreliable proposition: just 8.5% pass first time against the UK average of 80%, making it one of the worst-performing cohorts on record. The diesel variant (8.3% pass rate) offers no advantage, and whilst dangerous defects are mercifully absent, the sheer frequency of failures means you're buying a vehicle that will need serious work before and after every MOT.

These vans have covered 157,000 miles on the median, which is high for age but typical for commercial Transit use, and the 0.24 average failures per test suggests chronic wear across multiple systems rather than one killer issue. If you're considering this model, budget heavily for immediate repairs and ongoing maintenance—this is a vehicle for someone with mechanical knowledge, time, or a trusted garage relationship.

The 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td has a below-average first-time pass rate (61.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

First-time pass

61.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.24

Over 1.4 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

157k

Middle half: 124k–185k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

These stats describe 1,011 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 1,011 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td

Based on MOT data from 1,011 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

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (100%)	1,007	61.5%	0.24

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,856 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 83.4%

3,217

Blue 6.4%

245

Red 5%

191

Silver 2.5%

Yellow 1.1%

Green 1%

Orange 0.3%

Grey 0.2%

Black 0.2%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td 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.

157,112

typical

123,532

low mileage

184,582

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td vehicles fall between 123,532 and 184,582 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 123,532 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.

✓ 123,532–184,582 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Tds sit.

⚠ Over 249,185 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 24% of 2002 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Tds are still active.

Numbers are declining — 25 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (24% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* 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

0.24

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td: All Transit 350 Lwb Td years → Which year to buy? →

2000 2001 2003 2004

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on