Ford S-Max Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Ford S-Max fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 137,567 MOT tests across 16 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
77%
Ford S-Max pass rate
85%
Ford average
82%
All-model average
The Ford S-Max has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, which is 8 points below the Ford average and 5 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Ford S-Maxs pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 12 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Ford S-Max Fails Its MOT On
Of the 23,902 MOT tests on the Ford S-Max that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
40%Cars and vans the same age: 41% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
29%Cars and vans the same age: 36% · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
28%Cars and vans the same age: 21% (the S-Max fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Brakes
21%Cars and vans the same age: 23% · Typical repair £80-£450
Body, chassis and structure
17%Cars and vans the same age: 13% (the S-Max fails on this more often) · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (10% of failed tests, tyres)
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (10% of failed tests, brakes)
- Position lamp: not working (9.1% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Ford S-Max Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each S-Max year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Ford S-Max Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Diesel | 2.0L | 87% | 12% | 93% (-6) |
| 2020 | Diesel | 2.0L | 89% | 10% | 92% (-3) |
| 2019 | Diesel | 2.0L | 85% | 15% | 91% (-6) |
| 2018 | Diesel | 2.0L | 86% | 14% | 89% (-3) |
| 2017 | Diesel | 2.0L | 86% | 14% | 87% (-1) |
| 2016 | Diesel | 2.0L | 85% | 14% | 86% (-1) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 2.0L | 81% | 19% | 84% (-3) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 2.0L | 77% | 23% | 82% (-5) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 1.6L | 75% | 24% | 80% (-5) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 2.0L | 76% | 23% | 79% (-3) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 2.0L | 76% | 23% | 77% (-1) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.0L | 75% | 25% | 75% (0) |
| 2009 | Diesel | 2.0L | 71% | 28% | 75% (-4) |
| 2008 | Diesel | 2.0L | 71% | 28% | 74% (-3) |
| 2007 | Diesel | 2.0L | 70% | 29% | 73% (-3) |
| 2006 | Diesel | 2.0L | 69% | 30% | 73% (-4) |
Ford S-Max Running Costs
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Ford S-Max FAQ
What are the most common Ford S-Max problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Ford S-Max that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (40% of the 23,902 failed tests), suspension (29%) and tyres (28%). The single most common fault was "Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit" (10%). Across 137,567 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 77% ended in a pass.
Is the Ford S-Max reliable?
The Ford S-Max has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, from 137,567 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 3 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Ford S-Max years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2019 (85% of 4,133 tests passed, against 91% for all 2019 cars), the 2021 (87% of 1,832 tests passed, against 93% for all 2021 cars) and the 2014 (77% of 11,793 tests passed, against 82% for all 2014 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Ford S-Max faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Ford S-Max typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Ford Models
Common problems pages for other Ford models