2011 Ford C Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Ford C Max passed 78.9% of its 66,929 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 24.4% of the time, so this is 3.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.4% of all tests — 3.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, joints and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 2,539 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.5% in the 0-30k band and 27.1% in the 150k+ band, a 13.6-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 20.4% of the time against 21.7% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 31.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 6,936 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.7% | 4,496 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.6% | 4,445 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.4% | 4,264 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 2,801 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,361 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,539 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,435 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,313 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 2,203 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 1,575 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,561 |
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 | 31.6% | 21,125 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.1% | 17,453 |
| 3 | Suspension | 22.0% | 14,744 |
| 4 | Other defects | 13.0% | 8,667 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 5,920 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 5,791 |
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 | 1,072 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 9,456 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 24,861 | 19.7% |
| 90-120k | 20,642 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 8,185 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,697 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,667 | 21.7% |
| Petrol | 28,261 | 20.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,532 | 17.9% |
| 2022 | 13,729 | 19.8% |
| 2023 | 13,643 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 13,390 | 23.2% |
| 2025 | 12,635 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 C Max
On a 2011 C Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.7% 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 (6.6% 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.
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 2011 Ford C Maxs pass their MOT?
78.9% of the 66,929 2011 Ford C Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford C Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by suspension (6.7%).
Does the 2011 C Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 66,929 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.