Ford S-MAX - 2021
97.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford S-MAX, model year 2021.
Sample size: 716 cars, 1,715 tests and 1,664 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: 716 cars
The 2021 Ford S-MAX has an overall defect rate of 97 per 100 vehicles, which is significantly higher than the average of 79 per 100, marking a 23.5% increase. Notably, the S-MAX shows a concerning trend in specific categories such as brakes and lights & electrics, with defect rates of 58% and 18%, respectively, both exceeding the average figures. Conversely, the model excels in steering and visibility, reporting defects of 0% and 8.69%, which are much lower than the averages of 0.73% and 14.59%. Mileage patterns indicate that defects increase with distance driven, particularly in the higher mileage brackets. Overall, while the Ford S-MAX performs better in steering and visibility, it faces significant challenges in braking and electrical issues.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 716 cars
More model years for Ford S-MAX
Other models from Ford
Categories
Brakes
▼ 46.0% worse
58.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 100.0% better
0.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 100 tests
Visibility
▲ 40.0% better
8.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 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
▼ 63.4% worse
18.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- 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
- Reflector defective or damaged: by up to 50% of the reflecting surface
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 10.9% worse
96.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▼ 14.3% worse
2.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
Equipment
▼ 266.7% worse
5.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- 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
▼ 40.7% worse
3.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 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
- Smoke opacity levels exceed default limit
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour to an extent likely to obscure the vision of other road users
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: 601
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 284
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 102
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 70
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 57
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 47
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 39
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 30
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 28
Serious faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 57
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 47
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 28
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 6