Ford S-Max MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a Ford S-Max in Great Britain in 2025 — 67,933 tests. Figures cover every S-Max first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the S-Max ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
64.6%
7.7 points below the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
67,933
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
11.6%
of S-Max first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
86,250
middle half: 68,750–103,750 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

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

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 70,320 Ford S-Max cars that were taxed or on SORN: 65,235 taxed and 5,085 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 S-Max vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
65,235
92.8% of the 70,320 S-Max cars taxed or on SORN; 73 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
5,085
declared off the road by their keepers — 7.2% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed S-Max cars peaked at 89,427 at the end of 2018 and has since fallen by 24,192 (27.1%) to 65,235 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 417 at the end of 2014 to 5,085 at the end of 2025, up 1119.4%. 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 S-Max cars, year by year

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

020k40k60k80k100k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed S-Max cars, year 2014: 76kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2015: 79kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2016: 85kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2017: 89kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2018: 89kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2019: 89kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2020: 87kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2021: 85kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2022: 82kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2023: 77kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2024: 71kTaxed S-Max cars, year 2025: 65k65k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed S-Max cars
201475,772
201578,839
201684,528
201788,686
201889,427
201989,132
202086,903
202184,780
202281,575
202376,948
202471,106
202565,235

S-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.

02k4k6k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)S-Max cars on SORN, year 2014: 417S-Max cars on SORN, year 2015: 418S-Max cars on SORN, year 2016: 790S-Max cars on SORN, year 2017: 1kS-Max cars on SORN, year 2018: 1kS-Max cars on SORN, year 2019: 2kS-Max cars on SORN, year 2020: 2kS-Max cars on SORN, year 2021: 3kS-Max cars on SORN, year 2022: 3kS-Max cars on SORN, year 2023: 4kS-Max cars on SORN, year 2024: 4kS-Max cars on SORN, year 2025: 5k5k
View this chart as a table
YearS-Max cars on SORN
2014417
2015418
2016790
20171,013
20181,342
20191,878
20202,495
20212,733
20222,995
20233,694
20244,361
20255,085

Which model years survive

Taxed S-Max cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 65,235 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 S-Max cars
20236661.0%
20227101.1%
20201,1181.7%
20192,2483.4%
20182,3723.6%
20175,2408.0%
20166,79510.4%
20153,2034.9%
20146,2589.6%
20135,9129.1%
20126,3749.8%
20115,6718.7%
20107,19311.0%
20094,3076.6%
20083,0424.7%
20072,6944.1%
20067421.1%
All other build years (three years, each under 1%)6901.1%

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 S-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 S-Max ages

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

Ford S-MaxAll cars
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Ford S-Max, vehicle age 3: 81.6%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 4: 80.3%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 5: 80.4%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 6: 73.6%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 7: 80.7%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 8: 78.6%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 9: 75.8%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 10: 69.2%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 11: 64%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 12: 61.2%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 13: 60.1%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 14: 60.8%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 15: 58%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 16: 55.9%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 17: 53.4%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 18: 52.1%Ford S-Max, vehicle age 19: 50.2%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 S-Max 50.2%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)S-Max testsS-Max pass rateAll cars
374581.6%88.5%
470780.3%87.2%
51,14080.4%86.0%
62,29373.6%83.5%
72,39680.7%80.9%
85,24478.6%78.2%
96,84275.8%74.9%
103,26769.2%71.9%
116,28964.0%68.6%
126,00661.2%65.8%
136,61160.1%63.5%
145,96760.8%61.2%
157,79658.0%59.3%
164,86255.9%58.3%
173,51153.4%57.2%
183,26152.1%57.4%
1993250.2%57.0%

Better or worse than the average car?

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

S-Max aheadS-Max behind
-10-5+0+5+10Age 3: -6.9 points vs the average car3Age 4: -6.9 points vs the average carAge 5: -5.6 points vs the average car5Age 6: -9.9 points vs the average carAge 7: -0.2 points vs the average car7Age 8: +0.4 points vs the average carAge 9: +0.9 points vs the average car9Age 10: -2.7 points vs the average carAge 11: -4.6 points vs the average car11Age 12: -4.6 points vs the average carAge 13: -3.4 points vs the average car13Age 14: -0.4 points vs the average carAge 15: -1.3 points vs the average car15Age 16: -2.4 points vs the average carAge 17: -3.8 points vs the average car17Age 18: -5.3 points vs the average carAge 19: -6.8 points vs the average car19Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3-6.9
4-6.9
5-5.6
6-9.9
7-0.2
8+0.4
9+0.9
10-2.7
11-4.6
12-4.6
13-3.4
14-0.4
15-1.3
16-2.4
17-3.8
18-5.3
19-6.8

The S-Max fleet on the road, by age

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

02k4k6k8kAge 3: 7453Age 4: 707Age 5: 1k5Age 6: 2kAge 7: 2k7Age 8: 5kAge 9: 6k9Age 10: 3kAge 11: 6k11Age 12: 6kAge 13: 6k13Age 14: 5kAge 15: 7k15Age 16: 4kAge 17: 3k17Age 18: 3kAge 19: 93219Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
3745
4707
51,140
62,293
72,396
85,244
96,842
103,267
116,289
126,006
136,611
145,967
157,796
164,862
173,511
183,261
19932

What an S-Max fails on

Where the failure items land when an S-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 equipment24.9%
Suspension18.7%
Tyres16.4%
Brakes12.7%
Body, chassis, structure8.0%
Visibility6.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.8%
Steering4.2%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (95.9% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

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

Suspension: 30.7% of advisories30.7%Tyres: 27.0% of advisories27.0%Brakes: 20.3% of advisories20.3%Non-component advisories: 6.7% of advisories6.7%Noise, emissions and leaks: 4.3% of advisoriesBody, chassis, structure: 3.6% of advisories
SuspensionTyresBrakesNon-component advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaksBody, chassis, structure
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Suspension30.7%
Tyres27.0%
Brakes20.3%
Non-component advisories6.7%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.3%
Body, chassis, structure3.6%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid S-Max?

First-time pass rate for the three most-tested S-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%Diesel: 64.2% of 61,180 tests64.2%Diesel61,180 testsPetrol: 67.0% of 6,148 tests67.0%Petrol6,148 testsHybrid electric: 82.3% of 603 tests82.3%Hybrid603 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Diesel61,18064.2%
Petrol6,14867.0%
Hybrid electric60382.3%

What mileage is normal for an S-Max?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) S-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 S-Max (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k150k175k35791113151719Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 21,250 miles (middle half 16,250–33,750)Age 4: typical 36,250 miles (middle half 26,250–51,250)Age 5: typical 41,250 miles (middle half 31,250–56,250)Age 6: typical 51,250 miles (middle half 38,750–66,250)Age 7: typical 58,750 miles (middle half 46,250–73,750)Age 8: typical 71,250 miles (middle half 56,250–86,250)Age 9: typical 76,250 miles (middle half 61,250–93,750)Age 10: typical 86,250 miles (middle half 68,750–103,750)Age 11: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 78,750–116,250)Age 12: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 86,250–126,250)Age 13: typical 113,750 miles (middle half 93,750–136,250)Age 14: typical 123,750 miles (middle half 101,250–146,250)Age 15: typical 128,750 miles (middle half 106,250–151,250)Age 16: typical 136,250 miles (middle half 113,750–158,750)Age 17: typical 143,750 miles (middle half 121,250–168,750)Age 18: typical 143,750 miles (middle half 118,750–166,250)Age 19: typical 138,750 miles (middle half 116,250–166,250)138k mi

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

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
316,25021,25033,750
426,25036,25051,250
531,25041,25056,250
638,75051,25066,250
746,25058,75073,750
856,25071,25086,250
961,25076,25093,750
1068,75086,250103,750
1178,75096,250116,250
1286,250103,750126,250
1393,750113,750136,250
14101,250123,750146,250
15106,250128,750151,250
16113,750136,250158,750
17121,250143,750168,750
18118,750143,750166,250
19116,250138,750166,250

What fails at each age

The S-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.

TyresLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentBrakesVisibilityNoise, emissions and leaksSuspensionBody, chassis, structureEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
3-5 yrsTyres33.3%
3-5 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment25.1%
3-5 yrsBrakes14.6%
3-5 yrsVisibility9.6%
3-5 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks7.6%
3-5 yrsEverything else9.8%
6-9 yrsTyres38.2%
6-9 yrsBrakes21.8%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment16.7%
6-9 yrsVisibility9.5%
6-9 yrsSuspension3.8%
6-9 yrsEverything else10.0%
10-13 yrsTyres18.9%
10-13 yrsSuspension18.1%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment18.1%
10-13 yrsBrakes13.7%
10-13 yrsBody, chassis, structure12.8%
10-13 yrsEverything else18.4%
14+ yrsSuspension25.6%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment22.2%
14+ yrsTyres12.6%
14+ yrsBrakes12.5%
14+ yrsBody, chassis, structure7.8%
14+ yrsEverything else19.3%

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.