2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 Ford S-Max MOT pass rate and common faults

6,307 MOT tests in 2024. 62.4% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

101About average
Passed first time62.4%
Failed or needed repairs37.6%
Typical mileage at test117,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 6,307 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.9%
    387 marked dangerous
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.7%
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.6%
    310 marked dangerous
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.5%
    292 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 play2.1%
  8. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.0%
  9. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.7%
  10. Position lamp: not working1.7%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics17.1%
  2. Suspension13.6%
  3. Tyres11.4%
  4. Brakes10.5%
  5. Body & chassis9.6%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.6%
  7. Steering4.4%
  8. Emissions & leaks3.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm28.4%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn14.1%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick14.1%
  4. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened13.6%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.7%

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: 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 2011 Ford S-Max?

In 2024, 62.4% of 2011 Ford S-Max cars passed their MOT first time, across 6,307 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Ford S-Max?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; 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 2011 Ford S-Max reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 101, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).