MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Does the Ford Transit Connect fail the MOT on seat belts and airbags more than it should?

The Ford Transit Connect records 4.16 seat belts and airbags failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 2.16 expected for a lcv of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+2.00, 95% interval +1.96 to +2.04). It ranks 57 of 627 models on seat belts and airbags (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on seat belts and airbags · check a Ford Transit Connect by registration

What exactly fails on seat belts and airbags?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Ford Transit Connect is “The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired”, recorded 36,457 times in 2019–2024.

Ford Transit Connect: most frequent seat belts and airbags defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wordingItemsPer 100 tests
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired36,4573.72
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction1,5410.16
Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended7820.08
Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type5930.06
A seat belt or flexible stalk damaged3200.03

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 980,844 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

If a Ford Transit Connect gets a seat belts and airbags advisory, how often does it fail next time?

12.9% of Ford Transit Connect MOTs with a seat belts and airbags advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 4,762 miles later (7,901 advisories followed).

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,901 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Other pages for this model

Ford Transit Connect 2002 · Ford Transit Connect 2003 · Ford Transit Connect 2004 · Ford Transit Connect 2005 · Ford Transit Connect 2006 · Ford Transit Connect 2007 · Ford Transit Connect 2008 · Ford Transit Connect 2009 · Ford Transit Connect 2010 · Ford Transit Connect 2011 · Ford Transit Connect 2012 · Ford Transit Connect 2013 · Ford Transit Connect 2014 · Ford Transit Connect 2015 · Ford Transit Connect 2016 · Ford Transit Connect 2017 · Ford Transit Connect 2018 · Ford Transit Connect 2019 · Ford Transit Connect 2020 · Ford Transit Connect by postcode area · Ford Transit Connect body, chassis and structure failures · Ford Transit Connect brakes failures · Ford Transit Connect vehicle identification failures · Ford Transit Connect lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Ford Transit Connect noise, emissions and leaks failures · Ford Transit Connect road wheels failures · Ford Transit Connect steering failures · Ford Transit Connect suspension failures · Ford Transit Connect tyres failures · Ford Transit Connect visibility failures