2010 Ford S-Max MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 58.0% of Ford S-Max cars first used in 2010 passed their MOT first time, against 59.3% for all cars first used in 2010. Across 26,025 S-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 S-Max cars first used in 2010 (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
How the 2010 Ford S-Max MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, S-Max cars first used in 2010 against all cars first used in 2010 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the S-Max figure was 1.3 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2010 S-Max | All cars first used 2010 | S-Max first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62.3% | 62.6% | 10,227 |
| 2022 | 61.8% | 61.7% | 10,005 |
| 2023 | 59.9% | 60.5% | 9,500 |
| 2024 | 58.9% | 59.6% | 8,729 |
| 2025 | 58.0% | 59.3% | 7,796 |
Common 2010 Ford S-Max MOT failures
Share of the 10,671 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%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working | 15.0% | 1,602 |
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 10.5% | 1,122 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 9.5% | 1,019 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 8.8% | 935 |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | 8.6% | 919 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for an S-Max in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2010 Ford S-Max before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Common 2010 Ford S-Max MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2010 S-Max cars, as a share of all 26,025 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 26.9% | 6,989 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 14.8% | 3,852 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 14.2% | 3,693 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 14.1% | 3,657 |
| Brake pads: wearing thin | 14.0% | 3,646 |
Questions about the 2010 Ford S-Max MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2010 Ford S-Max?
In 2025, 58.0% of S-Max cars first used in 2010 passed their MOT first time, against 59.3% for all cars first used in 2010. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2010 S-Max most often fail its MOT on?
Lamps and electrical equipment (in 45.6% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (31.6%) and tyres (24.1%). The single most common item was “Position lamp: not working” (15.0%).
How often does a 2010 Ford S-Max fail its MOT?
In 2025, 42.0% of first tests on S-Max cars first used in 2010 did not pass first time: 35.3% failed, and a further 6.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 10,671 of 26,025 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2010 Ford S-Max MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 26.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Coil spring: corroded” (14.8%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (14.2%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (14.1%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (14.0%).
Is a 2010 Ford S-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 62.3% in 2021 to 58.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2010
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2010 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2010 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2010 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2010 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2010 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2010 S-Max?
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