Ford Transit (2018)

51,838 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.9% first-time pass rate

2018 Ford Transit

CarHunch analysed 51,838 real MOT records for the 2018 Ford Transit. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2018 Ford Transit passes its MOT at 81.8%, which is slightly above the UK average of 80%, suggesting solid baseline reliability for this generation. However, 27.8% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is notably high and warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection, particularly focusing on braking and structural systems.

At 69,000 miles median, these Transits are showing typical wear for their age, and the average 1.25 failures per test indicates most get through with just minor issues. With 7.4 advisories per vehicle on average, expect to budget for routine maintenance items like filters, pads, and wear components—check the full service history carefully before committing to a purchase, as transit vans with patchy records often hide commercial neglect.

Below average reliability In line with UK average
81.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
69,138
typical mileage
47,726–94,076 middle half
27.8%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.25
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2018 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.
  • ⚠️ 27.8% 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%) 51,825 81.9% 1.25
Petrol (0%) 11 18.2% 0
Other (0%) 1 100% 0
Diesel (0%) 1 80% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 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.

47,726
low mileage
69,138
typical
94,076
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Ford Transit vehicles fall between 47,726 and 94,076 miles.

2018 Ford Transit — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 45,592 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 92% of the peak.

3,555 45,592 2020 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.25
Avg failures per vehicle
7.4
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2018 Ford Transit

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

  • 37.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 36.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 35.8%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 28.5%
    Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
  • 24.2%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 23.8%
    Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 18.2%
    Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material
  • 17.2%
    Oil leak, but not excessive

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018. 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 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024