Used car guide

2018 Ford Transit Courier: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Ford Transit Couriers, from 4,229 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,229MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
11,800typical miles a year
8.8×the usual rate for brake lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Ford Transit Couriers than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Brake lights8.8× usual
    Ford Transit Courier
    7.9% All 2018 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, against 0.7% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Windscreen4× usual
    Ford Transit Courier
    7.9% All 2018 cars
    2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check for chips or cracks in the driver's view.

  • Number plate lights3.8× usual
    Ford Transit Courier
    6.8% All 2018 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.6% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Headlights3.7× usual
    Ford Transit Courier
    4.1% All 2018 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Ball joint3.2× usual
    Ford Transit Courier
    4.2% All 2018 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 0.6% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

By area

The share of 2018 Ford Transit Courier MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    32% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    23% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    17% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    13% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Suspension
    12% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    4% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Ford Transit Courier?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20224,484Tyres 28%
20213,527Tyres 29%
20203,354Tyres 29%
20194,485Tyres 30%
20173,802Tyres 34%
20162,665Tyres 35%
20153,345Tyres 36%
20141,025Tyres 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Ford Transit Couriers registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score