Ford Transit (2002)
2002 Ford Transit
CarHunch analysed 56,979 real MOT records for the 2002 Ford Transit. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2002 Ford Transit has a 67.8% first-time MOT pass rate, significantly below the UK average of 80%, and an alarming 37.5% of these vehicles have suffered dangerous defects at some point—well above acceptable levels for a potential purchase. Diesel variants (which make up 98% of the cohort) pass at 67.7%, marginally worse than the petrol models at 70.6%, suggesting fuel type offers little advantage here.
These Transits are averaging 120,600 miles, which is high for their age, and each vehicle typically racks up 5.23 failures and 24.2 advisories per test—pointing to widespread mechanical wear across brakes, suspension, and engine components. If you're considering a 2002 Transit, demand a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on its MOT history for dangerous defects, and factor in ongoing maintenance costs; these vans are robust workhorses but this cohort shows they need close attention.
What to check before buying a 2002 Ford Transit
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.
- ⚠️ 37.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (98%) | 55,824 | 67.7% | 5.24 |
| Petrol (1%) | 849 | 70.6% | 4.49 |
| LPG (1%) | 289 | 71.1% | 4.45 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 7 | 68% | 2.71 |
| Electric (0%) | 3 | 67.8% | 2.67 |
| Other (0%) | 2 | 68.1% | 5 |
| LNG (0%) | 2 | 62.5% | 6 |
| CNG (0%) | 1 | 80% | 1 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 50% | 2 |
| Gas Diesel (0%) | 1 | 68.4% | 6 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Ford Transit 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 2002 Ford Transit vehicles fall between 89,745 and 144,941 miles.
2002 Ford Transit — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 3,855 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (11% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 Ford Transit
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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63.7%
Oil leak
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58.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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57.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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56.5%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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45.9%
Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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44.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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41.9%
Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'
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41%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Ford Transit?
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