2012 Ford B-Max MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 61.9% of Ford B-Max cars first used in 2012 passed their MOT first time, against 63.5% for all cars first used in 2012. Across 8,861 B-Max first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and tyres.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford B-Max cars first used in 2012 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
61.9%
of 2,866 first tests; all cars first used in 2012: 63.5%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
8,861
first tests, 2023–2025; 2,866 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
27.8%
of 2,866 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
72,500
middle half: 53,000–93,500 miles; all cars first used in 2012: 92,000

How the 2012 Ford B-Max MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, B-Max cars first used in 2012 against all cars first used in 2012 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the B-Max figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2012 B-MaxAll cars first used in 2012
60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2012, test year 2021: 68.8%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2022: 67.4%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2023: 65.6%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2024: 64.3%All cars first used in 2012, test year 2025: 63.5%2012 B-Max, test year 2021: 70.1%2012 B-Max, test year 2022: 69.7%2012 B-Max, test year 2023: 65.2%2012 B-Max, test year 2024: 66%2012 B-Max, test year 2025: 61.9%63.5%61.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2012 B-MaxAll cars first used 2012B-Max first tests
202170.1%68.8%3,063
202269.7%67.4%3,045
202365.2%65.6%3,003
202466.0%64.3%2,992
202561.9%63.5%2,866

Common 2012 Ford B-Max MOT failures

Share of the 3,152 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment47.4%
Suspension38.3%
Tyres19.5%
Visibility13.2%
Brakes12.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks10.1%
Steering6.7%
Body, chassis, structure6.2%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Stop lamp: not working21.7%684
Coil spring: fractured or broken16.8%530
Ball joint: excessively worn15.7%494
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm7.4%232
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect7.4%232

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a B-Max in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400
Ball joint: excessively wornBall joint replacement£90£60–£150

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2012 Ford B-Max before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.

Common 2012 Ford B-Max MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2012 B-Max cars, as a share of all 8,861 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge17.3%1,533
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.7%951
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.8%783
Brake pads: wearing thin8.1%715
Coil spring: corroded7.4%659

Questions about the 2012 Ford B-Max MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2012 Ford B-Max?

In 2025, 61.9% of B-Max cars first used in 2012 passed their MOT first time, against 63.5% for all cars first used in 2012. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2012 B-Max most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 47.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (38.3%) and tyres (19.5%). The single most common item was “Stop lamp: not working” (21.7%).

How often does a 2012 Ford B-Max fail its MOT?

In 2025, 38.1% of first tests on B-Max cars first used in 2012 did not pass first time: 29.9% failed, and a further 8.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 3,152 of 8,861 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2012 Ford B-Max MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 17.3% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (10.7%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (8.8%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (8.1%) and “Coil spring: corroded” (7.4%).

Is a 2012 Ford B-Max reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 70.1% in 2021 to 61.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2012

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2012 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2012 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2012 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2012 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2012 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2012 Ford B-Max MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2012 B-Max” means a Ford B-Max whose date of first use falls in 2012 (61, 12 and 62 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2012, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.