AI-generated reference image · MOTCost editorial
Ford
1,495 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Transit Custom 300 Trail Eblues pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 6.4 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
83.9%
Pass-after-fix
3.5%
Fail
11.8%
Avg miles
40,940
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 · 1,495 tests
Pass rate climbs 2.0 points across the cohorts — newer Transit Custom 300 Trail Eblue examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
82.1%
Fail
13.1%
PRS
2.1%
Avg mileage at test
52,663 mi
Pass
84.1%
Fail
11.6%
PRS
3.6%
Avg mileage at test
39,709 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,495 MOT tests, the Transit Custom 300 Trail Eblue returns 83.9% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. Wipers that don't clear the screen and a split CV-joint boot round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 40,940, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
57 occurrences · 3.8% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
44 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
37 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
25 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
25 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
23 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
Wiper blade defective
20 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
11 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
10 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
9 occurrences · 0.6% 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 2 failures
£80–£140
If every one of this Transit Custom 300 Trail 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 2.0-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Ford Transit Custom 300 Trail Eblue makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
84.1%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 84.1% — a 2.0-point improvement. Tests in this band average 39,709 miles — roughly 13K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. 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. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
82.1%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 82.1% pass rate against a fleet average of 84.1% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, and slightly damaged. Average mileage on test for this band is 52,663 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (84.1% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (82.1% pass). That's a 2.0-point spread across 145 older tests and 1,350 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
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Summit
Summit ADRG-18 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£8.79
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Summit ADRG-10 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£9.89
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ADRG-47 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£9.89
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ADRG-85 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£9.89
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
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Owner reports · Honest John
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
More refined and better to drive than most rivals. Punchy and efficient diesel engines. New interior technology from 2024.
Where it falls short
Other vans offer more overall load volume. Some rivals are fresher. Range-topping trim/engine combo expensive.
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 300 Trail 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.