2014 Ford Grand C-Max — MOT failures & pass rate
25,891 MOT tests on the 2014 Ford Grand C-Max are in this dataset, and 79.0% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 19.0% of the time, so this is 1.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.3% of all tests — 3.8 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 1,252 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.1% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.7pp more often than petrol ones (21.3% vs 18.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 32.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 17.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 3,447 |
| 2 | Tyres | 9.6% | 2,473 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 1,671 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.4% | 1,130 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 803 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 612 |
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 | 1,252 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,133 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,130 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,030 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 1,003 |
| 6 | Wipers | 769 |
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 | 32.4% | 8,391 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.3% | 6,559 |
| 3 | Suspension | 15.7% | 4,059 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.0% | 3,877 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 2,427 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 1,260 |
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 | 465 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 6,646 | 16.0% |
| 60-90k | 11,106 | 21.6% |
| 90-120k | 5,644 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 1,493 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 525 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 22,869 | 21.3% |
| Petrol | 3,022 | 18.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,129 | 17.5% |
| 2022 | 5,264 | 20.6% |
| 2023 | 5,290 | 21.3% |
| 2024 | 5,173 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 5,035 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Grand C-Max
On a 2014 Grand C-Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (9.6% 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 (6.5% 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 2014 Ford Grand C-Maxs pass their MOT?
79.0% of the 25,891 2014 Ford Grand C-Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Ford Grand C-Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, followed by tyres (9.6%).
Does the 2014 Grand C-Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 25,891 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.