In 2025, 67,271 Ford S-Max cars had a regular MOT in Great Britain. 64% passed first time, compared with 67% for all cars of the same ages, which makes the S-Max about average. Adjusted for age, it ranks 165 of the 217 most-tested car models.
That comparison matters: older cars fail more often, so a raw pass rate flatters models that are mostly young. We compare each model against every car on the road at the same age.
Pass rate by age
At 3 years old, 82% of S-Maxs passed first time (all cars that age: 88%). By 19 years, that figure is 50% (all cars: 57%). It trails the average car at most ages, most noticeably at 6 years (10 points behind).
Ford S-Max All cars of that age
| Age | Tests | S-Max passed first time | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 230 | 82% | 88% | 25,668 |
| 4 years | 629 | 80% | 87% | 41,133 |
| 5 years | 1,140 | 80% | 86% | 44,549 |
| 6 years | 2,293 | 74% | 84% | 54,737 |
| 7 years | 2,395 | 81% | 81% | 62,937 |
| 8 years | 5,244 | 79% | 78% | 74,172 |
| 9 years | 6,841 | 76% | 75% | 80,061 |
| 10 years | 3,267 | 69% | 72% | 88,673 |
| 11 years | 6,289 | 64% | 69% | 100,388 |
| 12 years | 6,004 | 61% | 66% | 108,268 |
| 13 years | 6,610 | 60% | 63% | 117,349 |
| 14 years | 5,966 | 61% | 61% | 126,104 |
| 15 years | 7,796 | 58% | 59% | 130,592 |
| 16 years | 4,861 | 56% | 58% | 137,751 |
| 17 years | 3,511 | 53% | 57% | 145,267 |
| 18 years | 3,259 | 52% | 57% | 144,840 |
| 19 years | 932 | 50% | 57% | 140,967 |
What fails most on a Ford S-Max
The area that lets the S-Max down most, relative to other cars, is body and structure: 6.9% of tests failed on it, 1.7 times the rate for the average car.
Share of S-Max tests failing on this area Average car
The six most common failure items
| Failure item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | Suspension | 5.8% |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | Tyres | 5.3% |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | Brakes | 4.3% |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | Lights and electrics | 4.0% |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | Lights and electrics | 4.0% |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | Suspension | 4.0% |
What to check when buying a used S-Max
Based on where the S-Max fails more often than other cars, these are the checks worth making before you buy:
- Body and structure: Get underneath with a torch: sills, jacking points, subframe mounts and floor pans. Structural rust is the failure that can make a car uneconomic to fix. Repair guide
- Tyres: Check tread across the whole width (uneven wear hints at alignment or suspension faults), and look for cuts, bulges and mismatched brands. Repair guide
- Steering: Feel for play or knocking through the wheel, and check power-steering fluid isn’t leaking. More
Then check the individual car: its own MOT history will show whether it follows the pattern. A car with repeated advisories in the same weak area is more likely to fail its next test.
Check a specific S-Max
Enter the registration to see its full MOT history, mileage record and reliability score, compared with these figures.
Check a S-MaxFrequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for a Ford S-Max?
In 2025, 64% of Ford S-Max cars passed their MOT first time, across 67,271 tests. Cars of the same ages averaged 67%.
What do Ford S-Max cars most often fail their MOT on?
The most common failure items were: a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (5.8% of tests); tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements (5.3% of tests); a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm (4.3% of tests).
Other Ford models
Ford Fiesta (65%), Ford Focus (67%), Ford Kuga (78%), Ford Transit (62%), Ford Mondeo (67%), Ford Ka (66%). All Ford models
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 (class 4 normal tests; first-time pass means passed with no faults fixed at the test). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.