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

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?

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?

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.

How many 2017 Ford Transit vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

32% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2017 Ford Transit reliable?

Based on MOT data from 78,264 vehicles, the 2017 Ford Transit has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Ford Transit?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 Ford Transit are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (36.1% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (35.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2017 Ford Transit?

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 (2017)

78,264 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.2% first-time pass rate

2017 Ford Transit

CarHunch analysed 78,264 real MOT records for the 2017 Ford Transit. 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 Common Issues 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 has an 82% first-time pass rate, marginally above the UK average of 80%, which suggests reasonable reliability overall—but the concerning figure here is that nearly one-third of these vans (32.2%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, a significantly higher rate than typical for this age. This is a workhorse vehicle, and that elevated dangerous defect rate reflects the hard use many Transits see on the road.

With a median mileage of 73,281 miles at test time, these vans are running well within normal wear for a seven-year-old commercial or heavy-use vehicle, yet they still average 1.47 failures per test and 9.3 advisories, suggesting components like brakes, suspension, and exhaust systems need close attention. If you're considering a used Transit, budget for preventative brake and suspension inspections before purchase, and factor in that commercial history or high-mileage use is the norm for this model.

The 2017 Ford Transit has a decent first-time pass rate (82.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 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

82.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

32.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.47

Over 7.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

73k

Middle half: 52k–98k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 9.3 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 78,264 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 78,264 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 37.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 35.8%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 28.5%

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Oil leak, but not excessive

Suspension & steering 11.3%

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 78,264 Ford Transit cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Ford Transit

Based on MOT data from 78,264 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 32.2% 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%)	78,232	82.2%	1.47

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,452,948 Ford Transit vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

White 67.7%

983,736

Blue 10.4%

150,851

Silver 7.7%

111,566

Red 4.4%

64,420

Grey 3.8%

55,311

Black 2.3%

33,387

Yellow 1.7%

24,248

Green 1.1%

16,257

Orange 0.6%

8,181

Multi-colour 0.1%

1,999

Cream 0.1%

1,873

Beige 0.1%

1,119

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Ford Transit 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.

73,281

typical

52,440

low mileage

98,301

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Ford Transit vehicles fall between 52,440 and 98,301 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 52,440 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.

✓ 52,440–98,301 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Ford Transits sit.

⚠ Over 132,706 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 — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Ford Transits are still on the road.

Strong survival — 67,639 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 91% 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

7.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.47

Avg failures per vehicle

9.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

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

Watch for defects — worth knowing