2015 Ford C Max — MOT failures & pass rate
66,310 MOT tests on the 2015 Ford C Max are in this dataset, and 85.6% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 17.2% of the time, so this is 2.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.6%) and lighting & signalling (5.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 2,112 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 23.4% versus 7.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.3pp more often than petrol ones (15.6% vs 12.3%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.6% | 4,400 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 3,836 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.9% | 2,606 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.6% | 2,408 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 1,767 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 860 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 2,112 |
| 2 | Wipers | 2,045 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,960 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,434 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 1,417 |
| 6 | On or after 01/01/2014 | 1,297 |
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 | 27.6% | 18,282 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.4% | 12,181 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.8% | 6,527 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.5% | 5,666 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.8% | 2,544 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 1,616 |
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 | 6,727 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 29,785 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 21,538 | 17.1% |
| 90-120k | 6,590 | 21.4% |
| 120-150k | 1,252 | 22.0% |
| 150k+ | 398 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 42,833 | 15.6% |
| Petrol | 23,474 | 12.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,972 | 11.8% |
| 2022 | 13,076 | 12.4% |
| 2023 | 13,240 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 13,407 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 13,615 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a 2015 C Max
On a 2015 C Max, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 C Maxs pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 66,310 2015 Ford C Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ford C Max?
Tyres, recorded in 6.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.8%).
Does the 2015 C Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 66,310 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.