2017 Ford B Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 33,398 MOT tests, the 2017 Ford B Max recorded an 86.6% pass rate. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (13.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.9%) and suspension (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, coil spring and wipers — stop lamp alone was recorded 1,988 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.6% versus 8.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.1% fail against 17.9% for diesel, a 4.8-point gap across 33,398 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 2,625 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.8% | 1,929 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.8% | 1,278 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 779 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.9% | 636 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 243 |
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 | 1,988 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 1,960 |
| 3 | Wipers | 626 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 528 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 526 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 456 |
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 | 21.8% | 7,284 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.3% | 3,765 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.9% | 2,294 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.6% | 1,216 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 918 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 338 |
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 | 17,788 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 13,001 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,219 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 305 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 30,996 | 13.1% |
| Diesel | 2,402 | 17.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,295 | 7.1% |
| 2022 | 6,561 | 10.9% |
| 2023 | 6,787 | 14.2% |
| 2024 | 6,730 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 7,025 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a 2017 B Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (3.8% 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.
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 2017 Ford B Maxs pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 33,398 2017 Ford B Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford B Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by suspension (5.8%).
Does the 2017 B Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 33,398 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.