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Ford S-MAX - 2016

144.6 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2016 is 154.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford S-MAX, model year 2016. Sample size: 7,109 cars, 15,087 tests and 21,815 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 7,109 cars

The 2016 Ford S-MAX has an overall defect rate of 145 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly better than the average for its year at 151 per 100 vehicles, reflecting a 4% improvement. Notably, the S-MAX excels in steering and body/structure defects, showing significantly lower rates than the average. However, it performs worse in the equipment category, where defects are more than double the average rate. Mileage-related trends indicate that defects increase with higher mileage, particularly in the 93,000 to 124,000 miles category, highlighting a typical pattern seen across many vehicles. Overall, the S-MAX shows a commendable performance in certain areas while facing challenges in equipment reliability.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 7,109 cars

Categories

Brakes
▼ 5.1% worse
82.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 78.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 95.1% better
0.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 8.1 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • 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
  • EPS MIL indicating a system malfunction
Visibility
▼ 6.0% worse
15.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.0 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 2.8% worse
26.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.4 / 100 tests
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • 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 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • A lens defective: which has no effect on emitted light
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 8.8% better
145.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 159.4 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Body/Structure
▲ 74.7% better
2.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.1 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
Equipment
▼ 93.9% worse
6.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.3 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt:
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▲ 7.1% better
10.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.3 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • 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
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 329 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: 6,180
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,835
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,476
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,385
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 772
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 695
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 558
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 554
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 549
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: 545

Serious faults (Top 10)

Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 554
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 549
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 381
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 349
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 301
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 265
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 87
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 84
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 84
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 75