2011 Ford Grand C-Max — MOT failures & pass rate
35,283 MOT tests on the 2011 Ford Grand C-Max are in this dataset, and 75.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (24.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests against 8.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, tread depth and pins and bushes — joints alone was recorded 2,098 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.6% versus 19.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.4% fail against 25.4% for diesel, a 3.0-point gap across 35,283 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 34.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 4,669 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.4% | 2,952 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 2,859 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.7% | 2,358 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 2,296 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 1,501 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,098 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,629 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,577 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,551 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,502 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 1,312 |
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 | 34.5% | 12,191 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.9% | 10,206 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.6% | 9,736 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.2% | 5,713 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 4,188 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 3,670 |
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 | 285 | 19.3% |
| 30-60k | 2,699 | 16.4% |
| 60-90k | 10,642 | 22.6% |
| 90-120k | 13,021 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 6,172 | 27.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,433 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 24,805 | 25.4% |
| Petrol | 10,478 | 22.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,425 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 7,426 | 23.7% |
| 2023 | 7,210 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 6,903 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 6,319 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Grand C-Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.4% 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.
- Brakes (8.1% 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 2011 Ford Grand C-Maxs pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 35,283 2011 Ford Grand C-Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford Grand C-Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, followed by tyres (8.4%).
Does the 2011 Grand C-Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,283 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.