CarVerify

Free Car Check

P481 UAF

1997 Ford Bongo

Blue Diesel 2490cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires14 Aug 2023
Tests26 (16 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

185,411 mi
Last recorded185,411 miles
Recorded on8 Dec 2025
Typical for 1997 Ford Bongo136,092 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Ford
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationP481 UAF
MakeFord
ModelBongo
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,490cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

16 pass 10 fail
Fail 8 Dec 2025 185,411 miles

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Outer Brake pipe excessively damaged (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 15 Aug 2022 182,159 miles

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

General vehicle condition under neath rusty

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 15 Aug 2022 182,157 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device missing (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed inner wall (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

General vehicle condition under neath rusty

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 1 Jul 2021 181,176 miles
Fail 1 Jul 2021 181,176 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 26 Jun 2020 178,843 miles

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame damaged but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake lining(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Stub axle has slight vertical movement between stub axle and axle beam (5.1.2 (c) (i))

general corrosion

Fail 26 Jun 2020 178,843 miles

Nearside Front Battery insecure and likely to cause a short circuit (4.13 (a) (ii))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Sub-frame damaged but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

general corrosion

Pass 5 Jul 2019 178,646 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2018 184,812 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 3 Sep 2016 176,914 miles

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Vehicle structure has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Vehicle structure has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

nearside and offside front tyres perished

Fail 25 Aug 2016 176,906 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp excessively damaged so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Front Coolant leak ()

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Vehicle structure has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Vehicle structure has slight corrosion sill (6.1.B.2)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

nearside and offside front tyres perished

Pass 8 Jun 2015 173,289 miles
Pass 23 Jun 2014 164,805 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Oil leak

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

nearside front wing damaged

offside & nearside sills corroding

Fail 16 Jun 2014 164,609 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Oil leak

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

nearside front wing damaged

offside & nearside sills corroding

Pass 24 Jun 2013 151,031 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 1 Jun 2012 136,359 miles
Pass 10 Aug 2011 128,457 miles
Fail 21 Jul 2011 128,109 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

front discs corroded

Pass 10 Aug 2010 118,396 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 4 Aug 2009 107,440 miles

Battery insecure

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Fail 31 Jul 2009 107,301 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside front brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Battery insecure

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 11 Aug 2008 95,388 miles

Battery insecure

Fail 31 Jul 2008 94,773 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (3.4.1b)

Battery insecure

Offside Front brake caliper securing device loose (3.5.1j)

Pass 2 Aug 2007 86,688 miles
Fail 2 Aug 2007 86,688 miles

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 31 Jul 2006 76,979 miles

How Reliable is the Ford Bongo?

Based on 4,842 MOT tests across 228 vehicles.

66.3%
Pass Rate
5,037
Miles/Year
31
Year Lifespan
228
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

fog lamp not working 159
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 143
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 132
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 125
Registration plate lamp not working 97
Full Ford Bongo reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P481 UAF is a 1997 Ford Bongo in Blue with a 2,490cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

Across all 1997 Ford Bongo models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.4% with a typical mileage of 136,092 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Ford Bongo fails its MOT is fog lamp not working, accounting for 159 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P481 UAF, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Ford Bongo typically stays on UK roads for around 31 years. At 29 years old, this Ford Bongo is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P481 UAF?

You can check the full history of P481 UAF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P481 UAF registered?

P481 UAF is a 1997 Ford Bongo, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is P481 UAF safe to buy?

The MOT history for P481 UAF shows 26 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P481 UAF have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on P481 UAF. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.