2025 MOT results
Ford S-Max common problems
The most common reason a Ford S-Max fails its MOT is a tyre worn below the legal limit, on 10.5% of its 24,024 failed tests in 2025. Against other cars of the same age, 5 faults stand out, the widest gaps being: a number plate lamp out at 7.4% of failures against 3.9% expected; a tyre worn through to the cords at 8.3% of failures against 4.8% expected; worn brake pads at 10.4% of failures against 6.1% expected.
- Tests in 2025 67,926 Cars aged three and over
- Failed first time 35.4% 24,024 tests
- Found a dangerous defect 11.6% Unsafe to drive away
- Ended with an advisory 66.3% A problem to watch, not a failure
What fails a Ford S-Max MOT
Each bar is the share of failed Ford S-Max tests with that defect. Where we can compare it with cars of the same registration years, the marker shows what an average car of those ages records (12 of the 12 items below).
Most common reasons for failure
A test can fail for more than one defect, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 10.5% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 10.4% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.1% |
| Tyres: ply or cords exposed Tyres | 8.3% |
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 7.6% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension | 7.5% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.4% |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Suspension | 5.6% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.4% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 5.3% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4.7% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play Steering | 4.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
-
Tyre worn below the legal limit
10.5% of failures 8.0% expected somewhat more often
A tyre worn past the 1.6mm legal minimum across the middle three quarters of the tread.
A 20p coin in the main grooves: if the outer band of the coin is visible, the tyre is close to the limit.
-
Worn brake pads
10.4% of failures 6.1% expected 1.7 times as often
Friction material worn under 1.5mm, thinner than the point most manufacturers call the limit.
Look through the wheel spokes at the pad against the disc; wear indicators squeal before they get this far.
-
Sidelight out
9.1% of failures 9.9% expected about as expected
A sidelight, also called a position lamp, not working. It marks the width of the car at night.
Walk round the car with the lights on and the hazards going; these are the cheapest failures to avoid.
-
Tyre worn through to the cords
8.3% of failures 4.8% expected 1.7 times as often
The tyre is worn or damaged far enough to expose the cords underneath, which is a dangerous defect.
Run a hand round the inner and outer walls of each tyre, which is where kerbing shows.
-
Split joint boot
7.6% of failures 4.9% expected 1.6 times as often
A split rubber boot on a joint or driveshaft. The joint may still be sound, but dirt and water get in once the boot is open.
Turn the wheels to full lock and look behind them for greasy splits in the rubber concertina.
-
Worn suspension bushes
7.5% of failures 5.0% expected 1.5 times as often
Worn rubber bushes in a suspension arm, letting the arm move under load.
Perished or cracked rubber at the inner ends of the lower arms, visible with the wheel turned.
Which parts of the car fail
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails a Ford S-Max, on 39.6% of failed tests. The widest gap against cars of the same registration years is tyres, on 28.4% against 21.6% expected.
Failure categories
DVSA's own sections of the test. The marker is what cars of the same registration years record.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 39.6% |
| Suspension | 29.0% |
| Tyres | 28.4% |
| Brakes | 20.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 16.5% |
| Visibility | 13.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.1% |
| Steering | 8.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What testers warn about
66.3% of Ford S-Max tests ended with at least one advisory: a fault the tester found that did not fail the test. On Ford S-Maxes, these are the items to ask about on a car you are viewing, because they are what the last tester expected to go next.
Most common advisories
Share of all tests, passes included.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 29.2% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 14.8% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 11.6% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 10.9% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 9.1% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.2% |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 6.9% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 6.1% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 6.0% |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 5.8% |
| Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt Non-component advisories | 5.7% |
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 4.1% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
What changes as a Ford S-Max gets older
A 2019 Ford S-Max failed 26.4% of its MOT tests in 2025; a 2007 one failed 47.9%. What fails changes as much as how often, and these are the two years themselves rather than an average across them.
2019 Ford S-Max 26.4% failed, from 2,293 tests
- Headlamp out 30.1%
- Wiper blades that do not clear the screen 14.2%
- Worn brake pads 13.6%
- Tyre worn below the legal limit 12.1%
- Cut tyre 8.4%
- Engine management light on 6.8%
2007 Ford S-Max 47.9% failed, from 3,268 tests
- Suspension fault 16.3%
- Brake light out 16.2%
- Sidelight out 13.8%
- Headlamp aim out of line 10.6%
- Split joint boot 9.9%
- Exhaust leak 9.6%
Shares are of each year's failed tests. Every MOT a particular car has had, with the defects and advisories written at each test, is on GOV.UK's MOT history service from the registration, free.
Ford S-Max problems: common questions
What is the most common problem with a Ford S-Max?
Of the faults that fail an MOT, “Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm” is the most common: it appears on 10.5% of failed Ford S-Max tests. Across categories, lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the area that most often fails one, on 39.6% of failed tests.
How often does a Ford S-Max fail its MOT?
35.4% of Ford S-Max tests in 2025 were not passed first time, from 67,926 tests of cars aged three and over. Allowing for the age and mileage of the cars tested, that gives it a UK Motoring Reliability Score of 46 out of 100, where 50 is as expected.
Does anything fail more often on a Ford S-Max than on other cars?
Yes. “Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps” appears on 7.4% of its failures against 3.9% for cars of the same age, and “Tyres: ply or cords exposed” appears on 8.3% of its failures against 4.8% for cars of the same age. Where an item is missing from the national figures for a year, we use the smallest share those figures show, so the comparison never overstates the difference.
Are these the same as breakdowns or known faults?
No. These are the items a tester recorded at the MOT, which covers condition and safety: lamps, brakes, tyres, suspension, corrosion and emissions. A gearbox that is unpleasant, an infotainment screen that has died, or a car that will not start on a cold morning are not part of the test, so they are not in these figures.
Where do the figures come from?
Every normal MOT test of a Ford S-Max aged three and over in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT results. Retests are excluded, and the same fault on more than one wheel counts once.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT defects and advisories | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 67,926 MOT tests | 19 September 2026 |
- Shares for defects are of failed tests; shares for advisories are of all tests. A test can carry several defects, so shares add to more than 100%.
- The expected share is what an average car of the same registration years records, weighted by where this model’s failures fall. Where an item is outside the national figures for a year, the smallest share those figures show is used in its place, which is an upper bound, so the comparison never overstates a model’s problems. No expectation is published where less than 80% of the model’s failures can be compared.
- Great Britain only: DVSA does not run MOT testing in Northern Ireland. Cars under three years old are not tested.
- The descriptions of what each part does are general and the same on every model. Every figure comes from the MOT data.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.