2010 · 14 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2010 Ford S-Max MOT pass rate and common faults

8,622 MOT tests in 2024. 58.9% passed first time, compared with 59.6% for all cars the same age.

99About average
Passed first time58.9%
Failed or needed repairs41.1%
Typical mileage at test123,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 8,622 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working4.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.9%
    511 marked dangerous
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.5%
    400 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.2%
    376 marked dangerous
  6. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.6%
  7. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.6%
  8. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.2%
  9. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.9%
  10. On or after 01/07/2008: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit1.9%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics26.4%
  2. Suspension16.0%
  3. Brakes12.3%
  4. Tyres10.7%
  5. Body & chassis8.2%
  6. Emissions & leaks6.9%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.1%
  8. Steering4.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm27.9%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened15.1%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick14.3%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn14.2%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.2%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2010 Ford S-Max?

In 2024, 58.9% of 2010 Ford S-Max cars passed their MOT first time, across 8,622 tests. The average for all 14-year-old cars was 59.6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2010 Ford S-Max?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2010 Ford S-Max reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 99, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).