2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Ford S-Max MOT pass rate and common faults

5,752 MOT tests in 2024. 54.0% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

92Below average
Passed first time54.0%
Failed or needed repairs46.0%
Typical mileage at test132,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 5,752 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.9%
  2. Stop lamp: not working4.5%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.1%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.1%
    371 marked dangerous
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.9%
    314 marked dangerous
  6. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.7%
  7. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.7%
  8. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.7%
    296 marked dangerous
  9. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.5%
  10. On or after 01/07/2008: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit2.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics34.1%
  2. Suspension24.2%
  3. Brakes15.7%
  4. Tyres11.2%
  5. Emissions & leaks9.0%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.5%
  7. Body & chassis7.1%
  8. Steering3.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm26.5%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn15.7%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened15.4%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick13.8%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened11.7%

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: 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 2009 Ford S-Max?

In 2024, 54.0% of 2009 Ford S-Max cars passed their MOT first time, across 5,752 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Ford S-Max?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; stop lamp: not working; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Ford S-Max reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 92, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).