Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2003 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 2003 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 2003 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 2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,028 vehicles, the 2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td has a first-time MOT pass rate of 63.5%, 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 2003 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 (2003)

1,028 real MOT outcomes analysed • 63.5% first-time pass rate

2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td

CarHunch analysed 1,028 real MOT records for the 2003 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 2003 Ford Transit 350 is a reliability concern: only 14.4% pass their MOT first time, compared to the UK average of 80%, and these are high-mileage vehicles averaging 163,000 miles. The good news is that dangerous defects are rare at 0%, so failures tend to be fixable rather than safety-critical.

At 20 years old with median mileage of 158,000, these vans have been worked hard, and the 0.39 average failures per test reflects typical wear on ageing commercial vehicles rather than design faults. If you're buying one, budget for an immediate pre-purchase inspection and expect ongoing maintenance costs—these aren't problem-free bargains.

The 2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td has a below-average first-time pass rate (63.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

First-time pass

63.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.39

Over 1.7 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

158k

Middle half: 133k–196k

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 1,028 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 1,028 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td cars.

Before you buy a 2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td

Based on MOT data from 1,028 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%)	1,025	63.6%	0.39

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 2003 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.

158,366

typical

132,952

low mileage

195,775

high mileage

Half of all 2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td vehicles fall between 132,952 and 195,775 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 132,952 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.

✓ 132,952–195,775 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Tds sit.

⚠ Over 264,296 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 17% of 2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Tds are still active.

Numbers are declining — 32 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% 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

1.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.39

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 2002 2004

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2003 Ford Transit 350 Lwb Td stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on