2017 Ford Grand C-Max — MOT failures & pass rate
22,921 MOT tests on the 2017 Ford Grand C-Max are in this dataset, and 84.8% of them passed. Against MPVs of a similar age (13.6% fail rate), the 2017 Grand C-Max comes out 1.6pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (7.6%) and lighting & signalling (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 954 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.8% in the 0-30k band and 23.1% in the 150k+ band, a 13.3-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 14.5% of the time against 15.6% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 30.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 11.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.6% | 1,743 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 1,130 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.7% | 1,065 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 919 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 364 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 293 |
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 | 954 |
| 2 | Wipers | 814 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 797 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 452 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 364 |
| 6 | Washers | 324 |
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 | 30.6% | 7,023 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.7% | 4,288 |
| 3 | Other defects | 13.8% | 3,170 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 1,519 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 856 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 658 |
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 | 4,975 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,491 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,938 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,128 | 22.0% |
| 120-150k | 253 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 130 | 23.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 14,659 | 15.6% |
| Petrol | 8,262 | 14.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,426 | 11.4% |
| 2022 | 4,600 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 4,610 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 4,617 | 16.3% |
| 2025 | 4,668 | 17.6% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Grand C-Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.7% 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.
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 2017 Ford Grand C-Maxs pass their MOT?
84.8% of the 22,921 2017 Ford Grand C-Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Grand C-Max?
Tyres, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.9%).
Does the 2017 Grand C-Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,921 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.