Ford Transit (2011)
2011 Ford Transit
CarHunch analysed 55,398 real MOT records for the 2011 Ford Transit. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2011 Ford Transit fails its MOT first time in nearly 30% of cases—well below the UK average of 80%—and more than half of these vans have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a serious red flag for any potential buyer. The diesel engines dominate this cohort and show the same weak 70.1% pass rate, so fuel type isn't the issue here.
These Transits are typically running around 105,000 miles by test time, which is reasonable for a 2011 van, but they're racking up an average of 4.4 failures and nearly 30 advisories per MOT—suggesting structural, brake, and exhaust problems are endemic to the model rather than isolated wear items. If you're considering one, get a full pre-purchase inspection by a Ford specialist focusing on the chassis, braking system, and exhaust; the high failure rate means neglected examples are common.
What to check before buying a 2011 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.
- ⚠️ 55.1% 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 (100%) | 55,283 | 70.1% | 4.4 |
| Petrol (0%) | 66 | 71% | 3.24 |
| Electric (0%) | 38 | 81.1% | 1.21 |
| LPG (0%) | 7 | 70.3% | 4.57 |
| Other (0%) | 2 | 66.7% | 1 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 54.6% | 5 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 50% | 4 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2011 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 2011 Ford Transit vehicles fall between 78,094 and 135,693 miles.
2011 Ford Transit — Still on the Road
28,048 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 53% of the peak remain.
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 — 2011 Ford Transit
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
94.4%
Oil leak, but not excessive
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58.9%
Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
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48.9%
Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
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42.2%
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
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41.1%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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40.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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36.6%
Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
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35.3%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Ford Transit?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.