2018 Ford B Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,062 MOT tests, the 2018 Ford B Max recorded an 86.1% pass rate. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 12.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.6%) and suspension (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, stop lamp and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 251 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.0% once past 60-90k — 3.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.1pp more often than petrol ones (18.5% vs 12.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 21.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 308 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.9% | 238 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.3% | 173 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 106 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.4% | 58 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 251 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 219 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 84 |
| 4 | Wipers | 73 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 56 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 52 |
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 | 21.2% | 861 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 415 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.2% | 291 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 120 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.9% | 118 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 46 |
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 | 2,286 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,467 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 279 | 28.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,084 | 12.4% |
| Diesel | 978 | 18.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 804 | 6.8% |
| 2022 | 770 | 9.0% |
| 2023 | 797 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 828 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 863 | 21.3% |
What to check before buying a 2018 B Max
On a 2018 B Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.9% 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 (4.3% 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 2018 Ford B Maxs pass their MOT?
86.1% of the 4,062 2018 Ford B Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford B Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by suspension (5.9%).
Does the 2018 B Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 28.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,062 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.