Ford S-MAX - 2017
137.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2017 is 137.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford S-MAX, model year 2017.
Sample size: 5,441 cars, 11,650 tests and 15,969 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: 5,441 cars
The 2017 Ford S-MAX has an overall defect rate of 137 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly higher than the average for cars of the same year at 134 per 100, representing a 2.4% increase. Notably, as mileage increases, the defect rate for this model also rises, particularly in the highest mileage category (over 124,000 miles), where it reaches 292 defects per 100. The S-MAX excels in steering and body structure defects, showing significantly lower rates than the average, but it underperforms in equipment-related issues, where its defect rate is higher than what is typically seen. Overall, while the S-MAX is generally reliable in several areas, it faces challenges with equipment as it ages.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 5,441 cars
More model years for Ford S-MAX
Other models from Ford
Categories
Brakes
▼ 16.3% worse
84.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 72.5 / 100 tests
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 94.6% better
0.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.6 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- Steering
- A steering ball joint: worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▼ 11.7% worse
16.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 9.3% worse
22.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.4 / 100 tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 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
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 5.4% better
135.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 143.1 / 100 tests
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- 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
Body/Structure
▲ 78.6% better
1.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 7.0 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
- A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 114.8% worse
5.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 7.8% better
8.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.0 / 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
- 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
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: 4,693
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,337
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,174
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,035
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 488
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 466
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 439
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 426
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 417
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: 343
Serious faults (Top 10)
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 466
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 426
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 272
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 240
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 210
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 109
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 79
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 60
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 60
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 58