1989 Ford Transit 120 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

58.2%

Latest Pass Rate

525

Total Tests (All Years)

55,089 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for Transit 120

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1989 Ford Transit 120 as it ages.

20 yrs43.4%

→ ↑9.2%

21 yrs52.6%

→ ↑3.3%

22 yrs55.9%

→ ↓2.7%

23 yrs53.2%

→ ↑7.1%

24 yrs60.3%

→ ↓5.4%

25 yrs54.9%

→ ↓6.8%

26 yrs48.1%

→ ↑10.1%

27 yrs58.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	43.4%	99
21 yrs	52.6%	78
22 yrs	55.9%	68
23 yrs	53.2%	62
24 yrs	60.3%	58
25 yrs	54.9%	51
26 yrs	48.1%	54
27 yrs	58.2%	55

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Ford Transit 120 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (27 yrs)	58.2%	55
2015 (26 yrs)	48.1%	54
2014 (25 yrs)	54.9%	51
2013 (24 yrs)	60.3%	58
2012 (23 yrs)	53.2%	62
2011 (22 yrs)	55.9%	68
2010 (21 yrs)	52.6%	78
2009 (20 yrs)	43.4%	99

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

43.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 99Avg Mileage 56,248Top Failure Suspension — 38.4%

2010High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 78Avg Mileage 56,196Top Failure Suspension — 30.8%

2011High Fail Rate

55.9%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 68Avg Mileage 55,648Top Failure Suspension — 22.1%

2012High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 62Avg Mileage 57,573Top Failure Suspension — 29.0%

2013High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 58Avg Mileage 60,234Top Failure Suspension — 56.9%

2014High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 51Avg Mileage 54,935Top Failure Suspension — 66.7%

2015High Fail Rate

48.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 54Avg Mileage 57,389Top Failure Brakes — 66.7%

2016High Fail Rate

58.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 55Avg Mileage 55,089Top Failure Suspension — 41.8%

MOT results for 1989 Ford Transit 120 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	43.4%	99	56,248	Suspension — 38.4%
2010	21	52.6%	78	56,196	Suspension — 30.8%
2011	22	55.9%	68	55,648	Suspension — 22.1%
2012	23	53.2%	62	57,573	Suspension — 29.0%
2013	24	60.3%	58	60,234	Suspension — 56.9%
2014	25	54.9%	51	54,935	Suspension — 66.7%
2015	26	48.1%	54	57,389	Brakes — 66.7%
2016	27	58.2%	55	55,089	Suspension — 41.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Ford Transit 120, with age trends.

Suspension

42.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

29.3%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

18.9%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

17.2%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	22.2% (20 yrs)	29.1% (27 yrs)	+6.9%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	38.4% (20 yrs)	41.8% (27 yrs)	+3.4%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	16.2% (20 yrs)	14.5% (27 yrs)	-1.7%	⚪ —
Brakes	19.2% (20 yrs)	18.2% (27 yrs)	-1.0%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1987 1988 1989 1990

← Back to Ford Transit 120 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Ford Transit 120 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Ford Transit 120 cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 525 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.