Van Guide

Ford Transit — Buyer's Guide

Buying a Ford Transit? Here are its common faults by severity, what to check on a working van, and how to verify a specific one's MOT and mileage history before you commit.

High

Typical Mileage

Vans cover far more than cars — check service history

Class 7

MOT Class

Vans 3,000–3,500kg (Class 4 below that)

Known Issues Tracked

Common faults for this van

Check a Specific Ford Transit

Enter a registration to get the full MOT history, mileage check and tax status for any Ford Transit. Add a Vehicle History Check for write-off, finance and stolen markers — essential on an ex-fleet van.

Run a Free Check

Common Issues — Ford Transit

Powershift dual-clutch auto failureHIGH

£400–£2,000 · Common on 2011–2016 auto Fiesta/Focus

Auto / DSG2011–2016

EcoBoost 1.0 wet-belt / coolant intrusionHIGH

£500–£1,500 · Common on 1.0 EcoBoost

Petrol0.9L–1.1L

Wet timing belt degradation (1.0 EcoBoost)HIGH

£500–£1,200 · Belt-in-oil wear on 1.0 EcoBoost petrol

Petrol0.9L–1.1L

Coolant loss / overheating (1.6 EcoBoost)HIGH

£400–£1,500 · Known on early 1.6 EcoBoost petrol

Petrol1.6L–1.6L2010–2017

Wet timing belt degradation (1.5 EcoBoost)HIGH

£500–£1,300 · Belt-in-oil wear on 1.5 EcoBoost petrol

Petrol1.4L–1.6L

Wet cambelt / oil pump failure (2.0 EcoBlue)HIGH

£800–£2,500 · On 2.0 EcoBlue diesel vans

Diesel1.9L–2.0LTRANSIT

DPF / EGR issues on dieselMEDIUM

£300–£900 · Common on TDCi diesels

Diesel2010–now

Turbo / DPF / EGR faults (1.6 HDi)MEDIUM

£300–£1,200 · Common on 1.6 HDi/TDCi diesels (shared PSA engine)

Diesel1.6L–1.6L

DPF / turbo faults (2.0 TDCi)MEDIUM

£300–£1,200 · On 2.0 TDCi diesels used for short trips

Diesel1.9L–2.0L

Turbo & DPF faults (2.0 HDi/BlueHDi)MEDIUM

£300–£1,200 · On 2.0 HDi (DW10) diesels

Diesel1.9L–2.0L

Boost hoses, thermostat & DMF (2.5T ST/RS)MEDIUM

£200–£1,200 · Boost-leak hoses, thermostat housing & dual-mass on the 2.5 turbo five

Petrol2.5L–2.5L

Turbo VNT actuator, EGR & MAF faults (1.9 TDI)MEDIUM

£200–£900 · Sticking VNT turbo (overboost/limp mode), EGR sooting & MAF wear on the 1.9 TDI

Diesel1.9L–1.9L–2010

Based on commonly reported faults for this make/model. Individual vehicles vary — run a check for the full MOT and mileage history of a specific car.

What to Check on a Used Van

Verify mileage is consistent across MOT records — vans are clocked more often than cars
Look for clutch and dual-mass flywheel wear (heavy on high-mileage diesels)
Check DPF/EGR health, especially on vans used for short urban deliveries
Inspect the load area, sliding doors and rear suspension for hard use
Run a Vehicle History Check — confirm it isn't a write-off, stolen, or on finance