2010 Ford Grand C-Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Ford Grand C-Max passed 78.8% of its 779 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 25.9% of the time, so this is 4.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.2% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — tread depth alone was recorded 41 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.5% in the 30-60k band and 25.4% in the 150k+ band, a 10.8-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 34.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 95 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.2% | 64 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 60 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.8% | 53 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 30 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 22 |
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 | 41 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 38 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 30 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 27 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 24 |
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 | 34.0% | 265 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.9% | 264 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.9% | 225 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.8% | 139 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 111 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 81 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 55 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 197 | 19.3% |
| 90-120k | 255 | 22.8% |
| 120-150k | 187 | 21.9% |
| 150k+ | 71 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 579 | 22.6% |
| Petrol | 200 | 17.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 160 | 17.5% |
| 2022 | 165 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 169 | 24.9% |
| 2024 | 153 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 132 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Grand C-Max
On a 2010 Grand C-Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.2% 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.
- Suspension (7.7% 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.
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 2010 Ford Grand C-Maxs pass their MOT?
78.8% of the 779 2010 Ford Grand C-Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Ford Grand C-Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by brakes (8.2%).
Does the 2010 Grand C-Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.5% in the 30-60k band to 25.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 779 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.