Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb?

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 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb?

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 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb?

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 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb reliable?

Based on MOT data from 928 vehicles, the 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb has a first-time MOT pass rate of 67.5%, 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 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb?

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 (2005)

928 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.5% first-time pass rate

2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb

CarHunch analysed 928 real MOT records for the 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb. 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 2005 Transit 350 LWB is a significant reliability concern—only 25.8% pass first time against the UK average of 80%, indicating serious structural problems across the fleet. The good news is that dangerous defects are virtually absent, so while these vans fail MOT, they're not imminent safety hazards.

At 143,842 miles median, these are genuinely well-used work vehicles, yet they average 0.67 failures per test, suggesting wear-related issues rather than design flaws. If you're considering one, budget for immediate repairs before purchase and expect ongoing maintenance costs; this isn't a reliable buy for someone seeking dependability.

The 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

First-time pass

67.5%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.67

Over 2.4 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

144k

Middle half: 100k–179k

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 928 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 928 Ford Transit 350 Lwb cars.

Before you buy a 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb

Based on MOT data from 928 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 (99%)	921	67.6%	0.66

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,688 Ford Transit 350 Lwb vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 76%

2,043

Blue 8%

216

Silver 6%

161

Red 5.7%

154

Grey 1.5%

Yellow 1.3%

Green 0.6%

Black 0.6%

Orange 0.3%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb 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.

143,842

typical

100,224

low mileage

179,314

high mileage

Half of all 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb vehicles fall between 100,224 and 179,314 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 100,224 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.

✓ 100,224–179,314 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwbs sit.

⚠ Over 242,073 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 29% of 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwbs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 79 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (29% 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

2.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.67

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2004 2006

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2005 Ford Transit 350 Lwb stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on