2013 · 11 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2013 Ford S-Max MOT pass rate and common faults

6,194 MOT tests in 2024. 62.4% passed first time, compared with 66.8% for all cars the same age.

93Below average
Passed first time62.4%
Failed or needed repairs37.6%
Typical mileage at test97,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 6,194 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.9%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.5%
    410 marked dangerous
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.4%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.9%
    297 marked dangerous
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed3.5%
    284 marked dangerous
  6. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.4%
  7. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps2.5%
  8. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.1%
  9. Position lamp: not working1.6%
  10. Exhaust system: system insecure1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics16.8%
  2. Tyres11.9%
  3. Suspension10.5%
  4. Brakes10.0%
  5. Body & chassis9.2%
  6. Steering5.7%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.0%
  8. Emissions & leaks1.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm28.1%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick14.7%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn14.4%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.4%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened10.1%

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 2013 Ford S-Max?

In 2024, 62.4% of 2013 Ford S-Max cars passed their MOT first time, across 6,194 tests. The average for all 11-year-old cars was 66.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2013 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 2013 Ford S-Max reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 93, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).