Ford Transit Custom 290 Limited (2017)
2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 Limited
CarHunch analysed 463 real MOT records for the 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 Limited. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 2017 Transit Custom 290 Limited is a reliability concern: its 51.6% first-time pass rate is significantly below the UK average of 80%, meaning nearly half fail their MOT on the first attempt. The good news is that dangerous defects are non-existent in this cohort, so failures tend to be repairable rather than safety-critical issues.
With a median mileage of 84,050 miles for a seven-year-old van, these are genuinely well-used work vehicles—and the 0.34 average failures per car reflects the wear you'd expect from commercial use. Before buying, budget for repair costs and request full service history; the low pass rate suggests these vans need active maintenance to stay roadworthy rather than being naturally bulletproof.
What to check before buying a 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 Limited
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 Custom 290 Limited
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%) | 457 | 51.1% | 0.34 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (1%) | 6 | 88.9% | 0.67 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 Limited 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 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 Limited vehicles fall between 63,229 and 107,922 miles.
2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 Limited — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 221 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.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Ford Transit Custom 290 Limited?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.