Ford S-MAX Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Ford S-MAX vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 75% MOT pass rate
  • 1,335 S-MAXs checked
  • 16.7% of Fords had outstanding finance

Ford S-MAX reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Ford S-MAX history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Ford S-MAX car check:

Of the 510 Ford vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 16.7% had outstanding finance recorded, 12.0% an insurance write-off record and 26.3% a number plate change.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a S-MAX by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Ford S-MAX MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 1,319 Ford S-MAX vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 75%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 8,700typical miles a year
  • 4.5%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 18,335MOT tests analysed
  • 2009–2014built (middle half)
  • 90%diesel; 9% petrol

Ford S-MAX common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Ford S-MAX, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the S-MAX's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 18 Ford S-MAX MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.0%
  2. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick2.9%
  3. Stop lamp not working2.2%
  4. Position lamp not working2.0%
  5. Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.6%
  6. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.2%
  7. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.0%
  8. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively1.0%
  9. Headlamp aim too high0.9%
  10. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.9%
Show all 18
  1. Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases0.9%
  2. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.9%
  3. Registration plate lamp not working0.8%
  4. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.7%
  5. Track rod end ball joint has excessive play0.7%
  6. Headlamp aim too low0.7%
  7. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.6%
  8. Side repeater not working0.5%

Top 20 Ford S-MAX MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Brake pad wearing thin11.7%
  2. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge11.0%
  3. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened7.2%
  4. Tyre worn close to the legal limit6.3%
  5. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt5.0%
  6. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources3.6%
  7. Oil leak, but not excessive3.1%
  8. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread3.1%
  9. Coil spring corroded2.9%
  10. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement2.6%
Show all 20
  1. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing1.9%
  2. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.9%
  3. Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement1.9%
  4. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases1.5%
  5. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil1.4%
  6. Nail in tyre1.4%
  7. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.4%
  8. Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened1.3%
  9. Play in steering rack inner joint1.2%
  10. Brake disc worn, but not excessively1.2%
  • Lights and indicators: 42% of failed tests
  • Tyres: 26% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 25% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 20% of failed tests
  • Exhaust and emissions: 11% of failed tests
  • Tyres advisory: 31% of tests
  • Brakes advisory: 25% of tests
  • Suspension advisory: 21% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 1,319 Ford S-MAX vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since April 2023 (18,335 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Ford S-MAX versions

Every Ford S-MAX version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "S-MAX" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
S-MAX (no version recorded) 1,310 75% Lights and indicators

Key history checks before buying a used Ford S-MAX

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Ford on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the S-MAX. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Ford S-MAX

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Ford S-MAX car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Ford S-MAX you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a S-MAX by reg → See a sample report

Ford S-MAX MOT questions

How do I check a used Ford S-MAX for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 510 Ford S-MAX vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 16.7% had outstanding finance recorded and 12.0% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a Ford S-MAX car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Ford S-MAX are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Ford S-MAX?

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 3.0% of the Ford S-MAX MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 42% of failed tests.

What is the Ford S-MAX MOT pass rate?

75% of 18,335 MOT tests on 1,319 Ford S-MAX vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Ford S-MAX?

Going by its MOT records, the Ford S-MAX's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3.0% of tests); brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick (2.9% of tests); stop lamp not working (2.2% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Ford S-MAX?

Brake pad wearing thin: noted at 11.7% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Ford S-MAX typically driven?

About 8,700 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 4.5% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Ford car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Ford S-MAX