Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2020 Ford Transit Custom?

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 2020 Ford Transit Custom?

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 2020 Ford Transit Custom?

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 2020 Ford Transit Custom reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,409 vehicles, the 2020 Ford Transit Custom has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.3%, 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 2020 Ford Transit Custom?

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 Custom (2020)

1,409 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.3% first-time pass rate

2020 Ford Transit Custom

CarHunch analysed 1,409 real MOT records for the 2020 Ford Transit Custom. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 2020 Ford Transit Custom passes its MOT on first attempt 87.3% of the time, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%, and only 13.5% have ever picked up a dangerous defect—so you're looking at a mechanically sound workhorse. Diesel is the only fuel option here, and it performs well with that same 87.3% pass rate.

At 55,038 miles on average, these vans are running fairly hard for their age, yet they're still delivering solid reliability; the 0.57 average failures per test and 3.0 advisories suggest routine wear items rather than structural problems. When you're evaluating a used example, focus on service history and suspension health—that's where the advisories will cluster on a van doing commercial miles.

The 2020 Ford Transit Custom passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (87.3% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

87.3%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

13.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.57

Over 3.6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

49k

Middle half: 32k–74k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.3% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 1,409 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 1,409 Ford Transit Custom cars.

Before you buy a 2020 Ford Transit Custom

Based on MOT data from 1,409 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.5% 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 (100%)	1,404	87.4%	0.57

Colour Breakdown

Based on 77,375 Ford Transit Custom vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 44.7%

34,595

Silver 15.6%

12,040

Grey 13.7%

10,562

Blue 10.4%

8,052

Black 8.5%

6,562

Orange 3.7%

2,883

Red 1.6%

1,252

Yellow 1.3%

1,040

Green 0.4%

322

Purple 0%

Multi-colour 0%

Bronze 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2020 Ford Transit Custom 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.

49,204

typical

31,661

low mileage

73,724

high mileage

Half of all 2020 Ford Transit Custom vehicles fall between 31,661 and 73,724 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 31,661 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.

✓ 31,661–73,724 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2020 Ford Transit Customs sit.

⚠ Over 99,527 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2020 Ford Transit Custom — Still on the Road

Almost all 2020 Ford Transit Customs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,326 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2022–2025.

MOT History Averages

3.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.57

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

1993 1994 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2020 Ford Transit Custom stacks up against a rival.

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