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Ford S-MAX - 2018

131.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2018 is 123.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford S-MAX, model year 2018. Sample size: 2,451 cars, 5,249 tests and 6,886 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,451 cars

The 2018 Ford S-MAX has a higher overall defect rate, with 131 defects per 100 vehicles, compared to the average of 120 defects per 100 vehicles, indicating a 9.3% increase. Notably, this model shows a concerning trend in the 124,000+ miles segment, where the defect rate rises sharply to 292 per 100 vehicles. While it excels in steering and body structure with significantly lower defect rates than average, it struggles with brakes, equipment issues, and other defects, where its rates are notably higher. Overall, the S-MAX presents a mixed performance, showcasing strengths in some areas while facing challenges in others.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,451 cars

More model years for Ford S-MAX

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Ford

Ford ALLIED Ford B-MAX Ford C-MAX Ford CAPRI Ford ECOSPORT Ford EDGE Ford ESCORT Ford FIESTA Ford FOCUS Ford FUSION Ford GALAXY Ford GRAND C-MAX Ford KA Ford KUGA Ford MONDEO Ford MUSTANG Ford MUSTANG MACH-E Ford PUMA Ford RANGER Ford S-MAX Ford SIERRA Ford TOURNEO CONNECT Ford TRANSIT

Categories

Brakes
▼ 20.3% worse
82.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.8 / 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
▲ 96.0% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.0 / 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
  • Steering
Visibility
▼ 19.4% worse
16.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.9 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 3.4% worse
18.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 17.6 / 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
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • A lens defective: which has no effect on emitted light
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 1.6% worse
128.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 126.7 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 72.5% better
1.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.1 / 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
  • A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 109.1% worse
4.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.2 / 100 tests
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
Other
▼ 38.6% worse
9.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 7.0 / 100 tests
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • 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
  • Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 307 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: 2,148
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,108
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 475
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 418
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 211
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 209
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 196
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 187
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 131
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 119

Serious faults (Top 10)

Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 209
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 196
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 131
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 93
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 89
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 54
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 23