2018 Ford Grand C-Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,377 MOT tests, the 2018 Ford Grand C-Max recorded an 84.2% pass rate. Against MPVs of a similar age (12.2% fail rate), the 2018 Grand C-Max comes out 3.7pp worse. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (6.4%) and visibility (6.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 871 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.7% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 15.8% of the time against 15.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.4% | 1,052 |
| 2 | Visibility | 6.2% | 1,016 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 898 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 653 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 501 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.7% | 119 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 871 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 696 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 406 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 347 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 275 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 267 |
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 | 28.5% | 4,671 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.4% | 2,855 |
| 3 | Other defects | 13.0% | 2,136 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.8% | 628 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.7% | 602 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 357 |
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 | 6,493 | 12.6% |
| 30-60k | 7,247 | 17.3% |
| 60-90k | 2,091 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 398 | 21.1% |
| 120-150k | 100 | 19.0% |
| 150k+ | 42 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,745 | 15.8% |
| Diesel | 6,632 | 15.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,367 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 3,303 | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 3,223 | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 3,215 | 16.5% |
| 2025 | 3,269 | 18.2% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Grand C-Max
On a 2018 Grand C-Max, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.4% 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.
- Visibility (6.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2018 Ford Grand C-Maxs pass their MOT?
84.2% of the 16,377 2018 Ford Grand C-Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford Grand C-Max?
Tyres, recorded in 6.4% of tests, followed by visibility (6.2%).
Does the 2018 Grand C-Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,377 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.