Britain's workhorse, forty years and counting
The UK's undisputed king of commercial vehicles — the Transit Custom has been Britain's best-selling van for years, with the full-size Transit consistently in second place. Used Transit Customs range from £5,000 for high-mileage 2014-2016 examples to £28,000+ for late-plate low-mileage models. Bought by tradespeople, couriers, and fleet operators who need proven reliability and the widest parts network in the UK.
We track 9 known issues across the Ford Transit range, including 1 rated as safety-critical. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Ford Transit? Enter the reg to see which of our 9 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
Mk6 (2000–2013) — Petrol options included the 2.3 Duratec, with 2.0 TDCi, 2.2 TDCi, 2.4 TDCi on the diesel side. Our database flags 4 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Subframe corrosion (£1,500–£3,000 to address).
Mk7 (2014–2024) — Engine options included the 2.0 EcoBlue, 1.5 EcoBlue, 1.6 TDCi. Our database flags 9 known issues on this generation, 1 of which are rated as safety-critical. The most significant concern is Subframe corrosion (£1,500–£3,000 to address).
The rear subframe and suspension mounting points are prone to severe corrosion that compromises structural integrity. MOT data shows Transit fails at 866x the national average for load-bearing structure defects within 30cm of suspension mounting points. The problem affects all engine variants and is particularly severe on high-mileage commercial vehicles exposed to road salt. Corrosion typically begins around the leaf spring hangers and spreads to the main chassis rails.
Complete structural failure is possible if the subframe separates from the chassis. This creates an immediate danger to occupants and other road users. Repair requires extensive welding or subframe replacement costing £2,000-£5,000. The vehicle is not safe to drive with severe subframe corrosion.
Inspect the wheel arches, sills, jacking points and door bottoms carefully. Press gently on sills to check for soft spots. Look underneath for corrosion on structural components. Check the MOT history for corrosion-related advisories or failures.
The transmission shaft bearings wear prematurely on Transit vans, with MOT data showing 848x higher failure rates than the national average. This affects the intermediate shaft bearings in the gearbox and the CV joint bearings in the driveshafts. High commercial loading and frequent stop-start driving accelerate wear. The problem is universal across all engine variants and generations.
Complete bearing failure will immobilise the vehicle and may cause collateral damage to gearbox internals. CV joint failure creates a safety risk as drive to the wheels can be lost suddenly. Repair typically requires gearbox removal and costs £800-£2,000 depending on which bearings have failed.
Listen for clunking or vibration from underneath when pulling away or changing direction. Check for play in the driveshafts by rocking the car in gear with the handbrake on. Worn CV boots are a telltale sign — look for grease splatter around the inner wheel arch.
The rear leaf springs fracture at significantly higher rates than other commercial vehicles, with MOT data showing 182x-296x higher failure rates than the fleet average. The main leaf typically cracks near the centre bolt or at the spring eye where stress concentrates. Heavy loading and corrosion accelerate failure. This is distinct from the subframe corrosion issue but the two problems often occur together on high-mileage vans.
A completely fractured leaf spring will cause severe handling instability and may allow the axle to shift position dangerously. The vehicle should not be driven with a broken main leaf. Repair requires spring replacement and typically costs £300-£800 per side including labour.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The turbocharger on Duratorq diesel engines fails due to oil starvation, carbon build-up, or actuator problems. The variable geometry turbo system is particularly vulnerable to poor oil maintenance and short journey driving patterns common in commercial use. Symptoms typically develop gradually with loss of boost pressure and increased exhaust smoke. The failure rate increases significantly above 100,000 miles on vehicles with irregular oil change intervals.
Complete turbo failure will result in severe power loss and potential engine damage from oil contamination or metal debris. A failed turbo can scatter metal fragments into the intercooler and engine, requiring extensive additional repairs. The vehicle remains driveable but with significantly reduced performance and economy.
During a test drive, check for hesitation, lack of power or unusual whining from the turbo area. Watch for blue or white smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration. Check the oil condition and service history — turbos rely on clean oil.
The high-pressure diesel injectors on Duratorq engines fail due to carbon build-up, poor fuel quality, and internal seal deterioration. The common-rail injection system operates at extremely high pressures which accelerate wear on injector nozzles and seals. Failure typically affects individual cylinders causing rough running, increased emissions, and black smoke. Poor quality diesel fuel and infrequent fuel filter changes accelerate injector wear.
Failed injectors cause poor fuel economy, increased emissions, and potential engine damage from incorrect fuel delivery. Continued driving with faulty injectors can contaminate the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter or DPF. Complete injector failure will cause severe misfiring and loss of power.
Check for fuel smells around the engine bay and underneath the car. Look for staining or wetness around fuel lines and connections. Injector issues may cause rough running or misfires that are most noticeable at idle.
For the full breakdown of all 9 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Ford Transit common problems page.
Based on 3.5M real DVSA MOT tests, the Ford Transit fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is coil springs broken at 4371x the fleet average, followed by axle or kingpin wear (1468x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Ford Transit MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 13k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include timing belt and tensioner (£400–£600).
See the full Ford Transit service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Ford Transit has some well-documented weak points, including 1 safety-critical issue that demand careful checking. The right example, properly maintained, can still be a sound purchase — but cutting corners on the pre-purchase inspection is not advisable. 2018-2021 Transit Custom with the 2.0 EcoBlue 130PS. These models benefit from Ford's post-2017 engineering improvements while the Continental injector issue had been largely addressed through revised components. Avoid 2015-2016 models which had known engine and rear differential problems.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Ford Transit, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 9 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 9 known Ford Transit issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.