Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290?

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 Custom 290?

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 Custom 290?

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 Custom 290 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 510 vehicles, the 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.4%, 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 Custom 290?

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.

CarHunch

Get Started

Ford Transit Custom 290 (2017)

510 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.4% first-time pass rate

2017 Ford Transit Custom 290

CarHunch analysed 510 real MOT records for the 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

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 Custom 290 is a problematic MOT performer, with just 47.6% passing first time against the UK average of 80%—meaning more than half of these vans fail their test. The consistently poor diesel pass rate of 47.1% across the 502 diesel examples suggests this isn't a fuel-type issue but rather a fundamental reliability or maintenance problem with the model itself.

At nearly 95,000 miles on average, these vans are racking up serious mileage, yet they're still generating 0.34 failures per vehicle on test—well above what you'd expect for a seven-year-old commercial workhorse. If you're considering one, budget heavily for pre-purchase inspection by a diesel van specialist and factor in imminent repairs; the absence of dangerous defects is the only bright spot here.

The 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (88.4% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass

88.4%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.34

Over 2.9 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

93k

Middle half: 78k–111k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.4% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 510 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.

A solid choice — agree?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 510 Ford Transit Custom 290 cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290

Based on MOT data from 510 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 (98%)	502	88.5%	0.32

Colour Breakdown

Based on 925 Ford Transit Custom 290 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 93.6%

866

Silver 3.5%

Grey 1.4%

Red 0.8%

Blue 0.8%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 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.

93,315

typical

78,034

low mileage

111,366

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 vehicles fall between 78,034 and 111,366 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 78,034 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.

✓ 78,034–111,366 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290s sit.

⚠ Over 150,344 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 Custom 290 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290s are still on the road.

Strong survival — 213 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% 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

2.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.34

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Transit Custom 290: All Transit Custom 290 years → Which year to buy? →

2018

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2017 Ford Transit Custom 290 stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?