Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend (2018)
2018 Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend
CarHunch analysed 124 real MOT records for the 2018 Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2018 Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of just 59% compared to the national benchmark of 80%—a substantial 21-point gap that signals persistent mechanical issues across the cohort. The good news is that dangerous defects are absent from this dataset, so safety-critical failures aren't the primary concern here.
At 84,920 miles median, these vans are running close to the expected mileage for a six-year-old vehicle, yet they're still accumulating an average of 0.28 failures per test, suggesting age-related wear rather than exceptional abuse. If you're considering one, budget for repairs before purchase and have a pre-buy inspection by a diesel specialist focus on the drivetrain and common wear items that typically fail on Transit Customs.
What to check before buying a 2018 Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend
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 Trend
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%) | 123 | 58.7% | 0.28 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (1%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2018 Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend 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 2018 Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend vehicles fall between 68,499 and 108,498 miles.
2018 Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 66 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 2021–2025.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.
Other model years — Ford Transit Custom 290 Trend: