2015 Ford B Max — MOT failures & pass rate
57,315 MOT tests on the 2015 Ford B Max are in this dataset, and 86.1% of them passed. Against MPVs of a similar age (17.2% fail rate), the 2015 B Max comes out 3.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests against 5.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, wipers and tread depth — stop lamp alone was recorded 4,824 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.2% in the 0-30k band and 31.6% in the 150k+ band, a 23.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.2% fail against 18.2% for diesel, a 5.1-point gap across 57,315 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.5% | 6,593 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.6% | 3,219 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,780 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 1,312 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 1,239 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 817 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 4,824 |
| 2 | Wipers | 1,253 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,180 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 1,061 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,007 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 949 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.4% | 14,555 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.9% | 7,971 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.9% | 5,084 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.3% | 4,749 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 2,067 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 910 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 14,965 | 8.2% |
| 30-60k | 28,854 | 13.7% |
| 60-90k | 11,040 | 20.1% |
| 90-120k | 2,100 | 23.6% |
| 120-150k | 272 | 23.9% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 31.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 48,761 | 13.2% |
| Diesel | 8,554 | 18.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,144 | 10.6% |
| 2022 | 11,279 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 11,573 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 11,605 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 11,714 | 17.2% |
What to check before buying a 2015 B Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (3.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2015 Ford B Maxs pass their MOT?
86.1% of the 57,315 2015 Ford B Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ford B Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by tyres (5.6%).
Does the 2015 B Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 57,315 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.