2012 Ford Grand C-Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 24,638 MOT tests, the 2012 Ford Grand C-Max recorded a 77.8% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 22.7%, so the 2012 Grand C-Max sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 12.4% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and joints — brake pads alone was recorded 1,142 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.2% once past 150k — 3.1× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.6pp more often than petrol ones (23.2% vs 19.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 33.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 3,054 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.3% | 2,057 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.9% | 1,690 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.8% | 1,435 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 1,219 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 1,000 |
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 | 1,142 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,138 |
| 3 | Joints | 1,134 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 1,095 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,055 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 892 |
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 | 33.4% | 8,232 |
| 2 | Brakes | 26.9% | 6,627 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.8% | 6,592 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.8% | 3,893 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 2,496 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.6% | 2,113 |
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 | 239 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,706 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 8,922 | 20.7% |
| 90-120k | 8,017 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 3,329 | 26.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,416 | 27.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,065 | 23.2% |
| Petrol | 6,573 | 19.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,027 | 19.9% |
| 2022 | 5,128 | 21.8% |
| 2023 | 5,072 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 4,792 | 23.0% |
| 2025 | 4,619 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Grand C-Max
On a 2012 Grand C-Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.3% 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.
- Brakes (6.9% 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 2012 Ford Grand C-Maxs pass their MOT?
77.8% of the 24,638 2012 Ford Grand C-Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford Grand C-Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by tyres (8.3%).
Does the 2012 Grand C-Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 27.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,638 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.