2012 Ford C Max — MOT failures & pass rate
68,462 MOT tests on the 2012 Ford C Max are in this dataset, and 80.2% of them passed. That is 2.9 percentage points better than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and tyres (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 2,644 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 0-30k band and 27.2% in the 150k+ band, a 17.4-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.9% fail against 20.5% for diesel, a 1.6-point gap across 68,456 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 16.1% 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 | 9.5% | 6,531 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.9% | 4,705 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.5% | 4,465 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.7% | 3,906 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 2,341 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 2,313 |
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 | 2,644 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 2,484 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,414 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 2,006 |
| 5 | Joints | 1,968 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,766 |
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 | 30.7% | 21,047 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.8% | 16,974 |
| 3 | Suspension | 23.8% | 16,311 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.4% | 7,815 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.1% | 4,872 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 4,589 |
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 | 1,278 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 13,905 | 13.2% |
| 60-90k | 27,391 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 17,767 | 23.3% |
| 120-150k | 6,128 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,985 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 38,311 | 20.5% |
| Petrol | 30,145 | 18.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,543 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 13,823 | 18.3% |
| 2023 | 13,825 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 13,740 | 21.5% |
| 2025 | 13,531 | 23.4% |
What to check before buying a 2012 C Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.9% 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.
- Suspension (6.5% 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.
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 2012 Ford C Maxs pass their MOT?
80.2% of the 68,462 2012 Ford C Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford C Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by tyres (6.9%).
Does the 2012 C Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 68,462 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.