2012 · 12 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2012 Ford S-Max MOT pass rate and common faults

6,838 MOT tests in 2024. 62.8% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

98Below average
Passed first time62.8%
Failed or needed repairs37.2%
Typical mileage at test107,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 6,838 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.4%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.2%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.9%
    351 marked dangerous
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.8%
    394 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.7%
    345 marked dangerous
  6. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.6%
  7. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.4%
  8. Position lamp: not working1.8%
  9. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.8%
  10. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics16.5%
  2. Suspension11.8%
  3. Tyres11.1%
  4. Body & chassis9.8%
  5. Brakes9.7%
  6. Steering4.3%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.9%
  8. Emissions & leaks3.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm27.7%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick14.5%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.9%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.8%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened12.8%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 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 2012 Ford S-Max?

In 2024, 62.8% of 2012 Ford S-Max cars passed their MOT first time, across 6,838 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Ford S-Max?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Ford S-Max reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 98, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).