Ford Transit (2013)

54,003 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.9% first-time pass rate

2013 Ford Transit

CarHunch analysed 54,003 real MOT records for the 2013 Ford Transit. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2013 Ford Transit passes its MOT just 71.9% of the time on first attempt, significantly below the UK average of 80%, and nearly half of all vehicles in this cohort have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a serious concern for any buyer. This is a workhorse van that's been genuinely used: the median mileage sits at 92,286 miles for a vehicle now over a decade old, which is reasonable, yet vehicles average 3.55 failures per test and a striking 21 advisories, pointing to age-related wear compounding across multiple systems.

The high advisory count reflects the cumulative toll of commercial or intensive use on these vans rather than catastrophic design flaws. If you're considering buying a 2013 Transit, budget for immediate remedial work on failure items, get a thorough pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks suspension, braking, and structural integrity, and factor in ongoing maintenance costs—this is not a low-cost ownership proposition.

Below average reliability 8.1% below UK average
71.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
92,286
typical mileage
66,913–121,368 middle half
48.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3.55
avg MOT failures per car
over 11.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2013 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.
  • ⚠️ 48.2% 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

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 (100%) 53,981 71.9% 3.55
Petrol (0%) 17 26.5% 0.94
Electric (0%) 2 35.7% 1
Gas Diesel (0%) 2 90% 0.5
Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 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.

66,913
low mileage
92,286
typical
121,368
high mileage

Half of all 2013 Ford Transit vehicles fall between 66,913 and 121,368 miles.

2013 Ford Transit — Still on the Road

32,467 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 64% of the peak remain.

2,742 32,467 2014 2025

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

11.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.55
Avg failures per vehicle
21
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2013 Ford Transit

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 45.7%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 44.4%
    Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
  • 44%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 39.2%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 38.3%
    Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
  • 37.2%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 34.6%
    Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 33.5%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2013. 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.

UK

Other model years — Ford Transit:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024