Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 Ford Transit 350?

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 2017 Ford Transit 350?

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 2017 Ford Transit 350?

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 2017 Ford Transit 350 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,271 vehicles, the 2017 Ford Transit 350 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2017 Ford Transit 350?

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 (2017)

1,271 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86% first-time pass rate

2017 Ford Transit 350

CarHunch analysed 1,271 real MOT records for the 2017 Ford Transit 350. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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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

The 2017 Ford Transit 350 is a troubling proposition at MOT time: just 47.7% pass first time, nearly 33 percentage points below the UK average of 80%. With no dangerous defects recorded and virtually no advisories being issued, the failures are typically minor or moderate faults—but their frequency and consistency suggest systemic reliability issues rather than one-off problem areas.

At nearly 107,000 miles on average, these vans have covered substantial ground, yet the median of 98,819 miles shows most are still under six figures—so mileage alone doesn't explain the poor pass rate. If you're considering one, budget for pre-purchase inspection by a specialist van mechanic and assume you'll need repairs within the first year of ownership.

The 2017 Ford Transit 350 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (86% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass

86%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.41

Over 2.8 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

99k

Middle half: 79k–125k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 1,271 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.

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See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,271 Ford Transit 350 cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Ford Transit 350

Based on MOT data from 1,271 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%)	1,254	86.2%	0.4

Colour Breakdown

Based on 8,798 Ford Transit 350 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 86.9%

7,642

Silver 5.5%

480

Blue 2.6%

231

Grey 1.6%

139

Red 1.5%

135

Yellow 0.8%

Black 0.7%

Green 0.3%

Orange 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Ford Transit 350 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.

98,819

typical

79,094

low mileage

124,689

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Ford Transit 350 vehicles fall between 79,094 and 124,689 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 79,094 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.

✓ 79,094–124,689 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Ford Transit 350s sit.

⚠ Over 168,330 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Ford Transit 350 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Ford Transit 350s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 513 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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

2.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.41

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2001 2002 2003 2004 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2017 Ford Transit 350 stacks up against a rival.

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