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Ford S-MAX - 2008

416.7 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2008 is 340.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford S-MAX, model year 2008. Sample size: 4,487 cars, 10,058 tests and 41,910 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 4,487 cars

The 2008 Ford S-MAX has an overall defect rate of 417 per 100 vehicles, which is 24% higher than the average for its year at 337 per 100. Notably, this model experiences a significantly higher incidence of issues in categories such as steering, lights and electrics, and wheels, suspensions and axles compared to the average car. Specifically, defects in steering are 28% higher, lights and electrics are 29% higher, and wheels and suspensions are 44% higher. Mileage trends show that as the car ages, the defect rate increases, particularly in the highest mileage category, where it stands at 513 defects per 100 vehicles. Overall, while tyre wear may be a common concern, the S-MAX's standout issues suggest specific areas where it underperforms relative to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 4,487 cars

Categories

Brakes
▲ 8.2% better
122.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 133.1 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▼ 24.4% worse
22.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.0 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▼ 13.8% worse
28.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.3 / 100 tests
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 26.2% worse
116.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 92.2 / 100 tests
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 42.1% worse
440.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 310.3 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 12.9% better
44.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 51.3 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
Equipment
▼ 16.8% worse
11.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 10.1 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt:
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 11.9% worse
46.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 41.2 / 100 tests
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
  • Emissions test unable to be completed

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 514 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,652
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,835
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,388
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,360
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,031
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,652
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,639
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,350
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,079
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,005

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 738
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 669
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 486
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 432
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 412
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 404
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 400
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 347
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 297
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 286