Ford
31,845 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Transit Custom 280limitd Eblues pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 3.5 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
81.0%
Pass-after-fix
6.0%
Fail
12.6%
Avg miles
52,026
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered from September 2015 generally meet Euro 6 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 31,845 tests
Pass rate drops 2.1 points across the cohorts — recent Transit Custom 280limitd Eblue examples are doing worse than the early cars at the same tested age.
Pass
82.0%
Fail
11.8%
PRS
5.6%
Avg mileage at test
58,193 mi
Pass
79.9%
Fail
13.3%
PRS
6.4%
Avg mileage at test
46,017 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
The Ford Transit Custom 280limitd Eblue is a diesel-powered van sold in the UK market across multiple generations, covering a broad date range in the test population.
MOT data from 9,773 tests puts this van on a 81.6% first-time pass rate, above the UK fleet average. Average mileage at test is 46,725 miles. The most common fail item is cracked or discoloured windscreen, followed by inoperative wiper blade.
Buyers weighing up a used Transit Custom 280limitd Eblue should treat the failure breakdown as a pre-purchase checklist. The pass rate is reasonable, but the gap between first attempt and a clean sheet narrows with age and mileage.
ABI Insurance Group
Around the UK fleet average for insurance cost. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
1,617 occurrences · 5.1% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
991 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
Wiper blade defective
715 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
639 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
587 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
438 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources
397 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
372 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
271 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
262 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£120–£250
If every one of this Transit Custom 280limitd Eblue's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 2.1-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Ford Transit Custom 280limitd Eblue makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
82.0%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 82.0% — a 2.1-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, does not clear the windscreen effectively — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
79.9%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 79.9% pass rate against a fleet average of 82.0% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, does not clear the windscreen effectively, and blade defective. Average mileage on test for this band is 46,017 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (82.0% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (79.9% pass). That's a 2.1-point spread across 16,116 older tests and 15,729 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
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Summit ADRG-47 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
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Summit ADRG-85 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
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Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Transit Custom 280limitd Eblue and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
