2009 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Ford S Max passed 73.1% of its 42,874 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (27.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests against 12.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and stop lamp — position lamp alone was recorded 2,687 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2009 S Max fails 26.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 28.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.6 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.3% fail against 27.0% for diesel, a 2.7-point gap across 42,874 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 38.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 25.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.5% | 7,077 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.6% | 5,380 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.3% | 3,148 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 3,040 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 2,371 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 2,035 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 2,687 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 2,516 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 2,467 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 1,891 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,601 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 1,509 |
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 | 38.9% | 16,691 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.7% | 14,458 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.5% | 12,221 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.4% | 7,871 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.9% | 7,226 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 4,213 |
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 | 78 | 26.9% |
| 30-60k | 769 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 5,154 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 13,172 | 26.3% |
| 120-150k | 13,716 | 27.8% |
| 150k+ | 9,914 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 40,862 | 27.0% |
| Petrol | 2,012 | 24.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,081 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 9,631 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 8,912 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 7,836 | 28.3% |
| 2025 | 6,414 | 27.2% |
What to check before buying a 2009 S Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.6% 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.
- Tyres (7.3% 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.
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 2009 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 42,874 2009 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.5% of tests, followed by suspension (12.6%).
Does the 2009 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 42,874 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.