Ford S-MAX - 2012
308.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford S-MAX, model year 2012.
Sample size: 7,189 cars, 16,904 tests and 52,075 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 7,189 cars
The 2012 Ford S-MAX has an overall defect rate of 308 per 100 vehicles, which is 25% higher than the average for cars of the same year, sitting at 246 per 100. As mileage increases, the defect rate also rises significantly, particularly in the highest mileage category (over 124,000 miles) where the S-MAX sees a rate of 429 per 100. Notably, this model shows higher incidences of defects in steering, wheels and suspensions, body structure, and equipment compared to the average, with some categories exceeding the average by over 100%. While tyre wear may be common, the S-MAX's specific issues in these areas indicate a need for careful maintenance as it ages.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 7,189 cars
More model years for Ford S-MAX
Other models from Ford
Categories
Brakes
▲ 0.0% better
103.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 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
▼ 23.5% worse
16.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▲ 1.0% better
19.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- 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: defective
Lights & Electrics
▼ 4.0% worse
64.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
- Lamp: multiple light source up to a half not functioning
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 33.5% worse
326.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▼ 78.6% worse
46.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- 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
Equipment
▼ 98.4% worse
12.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- A seat belt:
Other
▼ 14.8% worse
27.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
- 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
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,129
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,740
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,510
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,451
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,853
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,777
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,793
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,668
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,386
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,305
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,028
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 892
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 735
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 655
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 541
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 390
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 358
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 341
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 289
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 245