Ford Transit 80d Swb (1997)
1997 Ford Transit 80d Swb
CarHunch is tracking 205 1997 Ford Transit 80d Swb vehicles on UK roads. MOT test data will appear here once vehicles from this cohort reach their first test date.
This 1997 Transit 80D is a serious reliability concern: only 50% pass MOT on the first attempt, compared to the UK average of 80%, and there are no dangerous defects recorded across the 205 vehicles analysed here. The diesel variants (which make up nearly all of this cohort) fare slightly better at 60% first-time pass, but that's still well below acceptable for a vehicle of any age.
The median mileage of 138,000 km is reasonable for a 27-year-old workhorse, and while these vans averaged almost no failures or advisories per vehicle, the sheer volume of repeat test visits suggests widespread but minor issues that owners keep having to fix. If you're considering one, budget for regular sorting-out visits to your mechanic and expect to fail your first MOT attempt—have a pre-purchase inspection done by a diesel specialist before committing.
We have 205 1997 Ford Transit 80d Swb vehicles on record but don't have enough MOT test data to show reliable statistics for this cohort.
What to check before buying a 1997 Ford Transit 80d Swb
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Ford Transit 80d Swb
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (99%) | 202 | 0.6% | 0.02 |
| Petrol (1%) | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1997 Ford Transit 80d Swb vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1997 Ford Transit 80d Swb vehicles fall between 77,646 and 138,063 miles.
Found a specific Ford Transit 80d Swb?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.
Other model years — Ford Transit 80d Swb: