2018 Ford C Max — MOT failures & pass rate
27,484 MOT tests on the 2018 Ford C Max are in this dataset, and 88.6% of them passed. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (12.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.0%) and tyres (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 1,310 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.0% in the 0-30k band and 18.2% in the 150k+ band, a 9.1-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 10.8% of the time against 11.7% for petrol.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.0% | 1,378 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 1,193 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 937 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 639 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 589 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 137 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 1,310 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 709 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 518 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 388 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 385 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 371 |
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 | 23.2% | 6,363 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.6% | 3,454 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.1% | 2,212 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.7% | 752 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 745 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 251 |
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 | 15,219 | 9.0% |
| 30-60k | 9,969 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,905 | 17.7% |
| 90-120k | 276 | 17.0% |
| 120-150k | 81 | 25.9% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 20,611 | 11.7% |
| Diesel | 6,872 | 10.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,553 | 9.4% |
| 2022 | 5,489 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 5,502 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 5,395 | 12.0% |
| 2025 | 5,545 | 14.1% |
What to check before buying a 2018 C Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 5.0% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (5.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 C Maxs pass their MOT?
88.6% of the 27,484 2018 Ford C Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford C Max?
Visibility, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2018 C Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.0% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,484 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.