Ford C-Max MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a Ford C-Max in Great Britain in 2025 — 116,365 tests. Figures cover every C-Max first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the C-Max ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
66.4%
5.9 points below the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
116,365
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
11.2%
of C-Max first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
71,250
middle half: 53,750–88,750 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many Ford C-Max cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 106,660 Ford C-Max cars that were taxed or on SORN: 102,686 taxed and 3,974 on SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification — kept, but declared off the road by the keeper). The MOT figures above count tests; these count cars, across the whole United Kingdom, cars only. Ford C-Max vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
102,686
96.3% of the 106,660 C-Max cars taxed or on SORN; 33 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
3,974
declared off the road by their keepers — 3.7% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed C-Max cars peaked at 130,521 at the end of 2019 and has since fallen by 27,835 (21.3%) to 102,686 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 233 at the end of 2014 to 3,974 at the end of 2025, up 1605.6%. A car leaves the taxed count when it is scrapped, exported or declared off the road; the year-end counts do not say which.

Taxed C-Max cars, year by year

Cars of this model taxed and on the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025.

050k100k150k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed C-Max cars, year 2014: 99kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2015: 110kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2016: 120kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2017: 127kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2018: 130kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2019: 131kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2020: 127kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2021: 125kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2022: 120kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2023: 115kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2024: 109kTaxed C-Max cars, year 2025: 103k103k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed C-Max cars
201499,060
2015109,838
2016119,532
2017126,789
2018130,155
2019130,521
2020127,166
2021124,724
2022120,397
2023115,391
2024109,170
2025102,686

C-Max cars on SORN, year by year

Cars of this model declared off the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025. Its own scale — SORN counts are a fraction of the taxed count.

01k2k3k4k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)C-Max cars on SORN, year 2014: 233C-Max cars on SORN, year 2015: 428C-Max cars on SORN, year 2016: 542C-Max cars on SORN, year 2017: 758C-Max cars on SORN, year 2018: 1kC-Max cars on SORN, year 2019: 1kC-Max cars on SORN, year 2020: 2kC-Max cars on SORN, year 2021: 2kC-Max cars on SORN, year 2022: 2kC-Max cars on SORN, year 2023: 3kC-Max cars on SORN, year 2024: 3kC-Max cars on SORN, year 2025: 4k4k
View this chart as a table
YearC-Max cars on SORN
2014233
2015428
2016542
2017758
20181,007
20191,413
20201,803
20212,008
20222,204
20232,682
20243,426
20253,974

Which model years survive

Taxed C-Max cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 102,686 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. A build year's count depends on how many were sold that year as well as how many have lasted.

Year of manufacture Taxed, end of 2025Share of taxed C-Max cars
20192,5602.5%
20184,7244.6%
20177,9437.7%
201610,41510.1%
201511,10610.8%
201412,24111.9%
201313,12312.8%
201210,30710.0%
20119,5759.3%
20105,0434.9%
20094,3654.3%
20087,8147.6%
20073,4003.3%
All other build years (five years, each under 1%)700.1%

Population source: Department for Transport / DVLA vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026; counts of the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, United Kingdom, cars only, excluding cars recorded with no model name. SortedCars groups DVLA's model name C-MAX under this model. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, DVLA or the Department for Transport.

How the C-Max ages

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, C-Max vs all cars, 2025.

Ford C-MaxAll cars
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Ford C-Max, vehicle age 6: 83.3%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 7: 80.1%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 8: 82.6%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 9: 77.7%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 10: 72.3%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 11: 69.3%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 12: 68.2%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 13: 63.4%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 14: 63.8%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 15: 55.8%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 16: 54.8%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 17: 52.8%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 18: 51.8%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 19: 52.3%Ford C-Max, vehicle age 20: 51.3%All cars, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All cars, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All cars, vehicle age 5: 86%All cars, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All cars, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All cars, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All cars, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All cars, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All cars, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All cars, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All cars, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All cars, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All cars, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All cars, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All cars, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All cars, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All cars, vehicle age 19: 57%All cars, vehicle age 20: 57.6%All cars 57.6%Ford C-Max 51.3%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)C-Max testsC-Max pass rateAll cars
62,61783.3%83.5%
74,81780.1%80.9%
88,02282.6%78.2%
910,58977.7%74.9%
1011,30272.3%71.9%
1112,40969.3%68.6%
1213,32068.2%65.8%
1310,55763.4%63.5%
1410,00963.8%61.2%
155,42655.8%59.3%
164,80254.8%58.3%
178,89352.8%57.2%
186,17651.8%57.4%
193,57152.3%57.0%
202,23651.3%57.6%

Better or worse than the average car?

The C-Max's pass rate minus the all-cars pass rate at each age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: the C-Max beats the average car of that age. Below zero: it trails.

C-Max aheadC-Max behind
-8-4+0+4+8Age 6: -0.2 points vs the average carAge 7: -0.8 points vs the average car7Age 8: +4.4 points vs the average carAge 9: +2.8 points vs the average car9Age 10: +0.4 points vs the average carAge 11: +0.7 points vs the average car11Age 12: +2.4 points vs the average carAge 13: -0.1 points vs the average car13Age 14: +2.6 points vs the average carAge 15: -3.5 points vs the average car15Age 16: -3.5 points vs the average carAge 17: -4.4 points vs the average car17Age 18: -5.6 points vs the average carAge 19: -4.7 points vs the average car19Age 20: -6.3 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
6-0.2
7-0.8
8+4.4
9+2.8
10+0.4
11+0.7
12+2.4
13-0.1
14+2.6
15-3.5
16-3.5
17-4.4
18-5.6
19-4.7
20-6.3

The C-Max fleet on the road, by age

How many took a first MOT in 2025 at each age — the shape of the C-Max fleet still in use.

05k10k15k20kAge 6: 2k6Age 7: 4kAge 8: 8k8Age 9: 10kAge 10: 11k10Age 11: 12kAge 12: 13k12Age 13: 10kAge 14: 10k14Age 15: 5kAge 16: 4k16Age 17: 8kAge 18: 6k18Age 19: 3kAge 20: 2k20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
62,617
74,817
88,022
910,589
1011,302
1112,409
1213,320
1310,557
1410,009
155,426
164,802
178,893
186,176
193,571
202,236

What a C-Max fails on

Where the failure items land when a C-Max fails or needs a fix at test, 2025. Use it as a pre-purchase checklist: these are the areas to look at first.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment27.9%
Suspension18.2%
Tyres15.7%
Brakes13.5%
Body, chassis, structure6.9%
Visibility6.6%
Noise, emissions and leaks6.2%
Steering3.0%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (98.1% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" for a C-Max, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Tyres: 29.7% of advisories29.7%Suspension: 29.1% of advisories29.1%Brakes: 22.1% of advisories22.1%Non-component advisories: 5.2% of advisoriesBody, chassis, structure: 3.3% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 3.1% of advisories
TyresSuspensionBrakesNon-component advisoriesBody, chassis, structureNoise, emissions and leaks
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Tyres29.7%
Suspension29.1%
Brakes22.1%
Non-component advisories5.2%
Body, chassis, structure3.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks3.1%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid C-Max?

First-time pass rate for the two most-tested C-Max fuel types, 2025, against the all-cars average. Fleet ages differ by fuel — newer fleets help the electrified bars.

50%60%70%80%90%100%all cars 72.3%Petrol: 65.3% of 60,287 tests65.3%Petrol60,287 testsDiesel: 67.5% of 56,066 tests67.5%Diesel56,066 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol60,28765.3%
Diesel56,06667.5%

What mileage is normal for a C-Max?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) C-Max; the shaded band holds the middle half. A car far outside the band, in either direction, is worth questions the recorded history can answer.

Typical C-Max (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k150k68101214161820Vehicle age (years)Age 6: typical 33,750 miles (middle half 23,750–46,250)Age 7: typical 41,250 miles (middle half 31,250–56,250)Age 8: typical 53,750 miles (middle half 38,750–68,750)Age 9: typical 61,250 miles (middle half 43,750–78,750)Age 10: typical 71,250 miles (middle half 53,750–88,750)Age 11: typical 78,750 miles (middle half 61,250–98,750)Age 12: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 68,750–106,250)Age 13: typical 91,250 miles (middle half 73,750–113,750)Age 14: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 78,750–121,250)Age 15: typical 98,750 miles (middle half 78,750–121,250)Age 16: typical 101,250 miles (middle half 81,250–123,750)Age 17: typical 106,250 miles (middle half 86,250–126,250)Age 18: typical 108,750 miles (middle half 86,250–131,250)Age 19: typical 106,250 miles (middle half 83,750–128,750)Age 20: typical 108,750 miles (middle half 86,250–131,250)108k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
623,75033,75046,250
731,25041,25056,250
838,75053,75068,750
943,75061,25078,750
1053,75071,25088,750
1161,25078,75098,750
1268,75086,250106,250
1373,75091,250113,750
1478,75098,750121,250
1578,75098,750121,250
1681,250101,250123,750
1786,250106,250126,250
1886,250108,750131,250
1983,750106,250128,750
2086,250108,750131,250

What fails at each age

The C-Max's failure mix by age band, 2025 — each band's top categories at their true share of that band's failure items; the pale remainder is everything else. How the mix shifts with age is the point of the chart.

TyresBrakesLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentVisibilityNoise, emissions and leaksSuspensionBody, chassis, structureEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
6-9 yrsTyres33.0%
6-9 yrsBrakes21.3%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment13.4%
6-9 yrsVisibility9.4%
6-9 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks9.1%
6-9 yrsEverything else13.8%
10-13 yrsTyres22.5%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment22.2%
10-13 yrsBrakes19.2%
10-13 yrsSuspension15.7%
10-13 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks6.5%
10-13 yrsEverything else13.9%
14+ yrsSuspension25.2%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment24.0%
14+ yrsTyres11.8%
14+ yrsBrakes11.8%
14+ yrsBody, chassis, structure9.2%
14+ yrsEverything else18.0%

More vehicles we've checked

How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, and all trims and variants of a model are grouped under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. The taxed and SORN counts on this page are the one exception: they are not computed from MOT records but taken from the Department for Transport's vehicle licensing statistics (DfT/DVLA table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0), which count the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, UK-wide, cars only. They describe a model as a whole, grouped under SortedCars' model names, and say nothing about any one car. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.