2019 Ford C Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 12,448 MOT tests, the 2019 Ford C Max recorded an 89.2% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 11.4%, so the 2019 C Max sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (5.2%) and tyres (4.2%) 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 catalyst emissions — wipers alone was recorded 640 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.2% in the 0-30k band and 19.6% in the 90-120k band, a 10.4-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 10.2% of the time against 10.9% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 5.2% | 648 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 520 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 373 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 280 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.1% | 257 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 46 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 640 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 288 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 219 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 183 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 182 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 168 |
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 | 21.5% | 2,672 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 1,379 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.7% | 956 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 322 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.0% | 253 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 77 |
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 | 8,367 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,561 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 460 | 19.1% |
| 90-120k | 51 | 19.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,726 | 10.9% |
| Diesel | 1,722 | 10.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 255 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 3,344 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 3,047 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 2,899 | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 2,903 | 11.7% |
What to check before buying a 2019 C Max
On a 2019 C Max, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (5.2% 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 (4.2% 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 (3.0% 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 2019 Ford C Maxs pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 12,448 2019 Ford C Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford C Max?
Visibility, recorded in 5.2% of tests, followed by tyres (4.2%).
Does the 2019 C Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 19.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 12,448 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.