2007 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2007 Ford S Max passed 70.6% of its 38,422 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (29.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.8%) and suspension (15.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and suspension arm — stop lamp alone was recorded 2,697 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.9% versus 34.9%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 27.6% fail against 29.6% for diesel, a 2.1-point gap across 38,422 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 46.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 6,820 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.6% | 5,975 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.5% | 3,253 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.7% | 2,968 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 2,283 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 1,975 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 2,697 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,602 |
| 3 | Suspension arm | 2,202 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,113 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 2,091 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2,029 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 46.2% | 17,762 |
| 2 | Tyres | 34.1% | 13,081 |
| 3 | Brakes | 29.6% | 11,390 |
| 4 | Other defects | 19.8% | 7,624 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 7,516 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 5,192 |
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 | 329 | 34.9% |
| 30-60k | 303 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 2,753 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 9,241 | 27.5% |
| 120-150k | 12,484 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 12,790 | 30.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 33,405 | 29.6% |
| Petrol | 5,017 | 27.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,737 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 9,457 | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 7,927 | 30.0% |
| 2024 | 5,954 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 4,347 | 30.5% |
What to check before buying a 2007 S Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (8.5% 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 2007 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 38,422 2007 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (15.6%).
Does the 2007 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 34.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 38,422 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.