2010 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Ford S Max passed 75.1% of its 60,180 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as MPVs of a similar age (25.8% 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 14.0% of tests against 8.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, pins and bushes and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 3,385 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.3% in the 0-30k band and 26.8% in the 150k+ band, a 6.5-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.1% of the time against 25.0% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 36.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 8,430 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.6% | 5,165 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.4% | 4,471 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.0% | 3,641 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 3,067 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 2,500 |
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 | 3,385 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 3,235 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,957 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2,058 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,994 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 1,944 |
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 | 36.5% | 21,985 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.5% | 20,148 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.4% | 16,503 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.3% | 10,413 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 9,177 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 5,553 |
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 | 128 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,545 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 10,834 | 22.3% |
| 90-120k | 21,125 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 16,889 | 26.5% |
| 150k+ | 9,606 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 53,517 | 25.0% |
| Petrol | 6,663 | 24.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,163 | 23.4% |
| 2022 | 12,919 | 24.0% |
| 2023 | 12,384 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 11,427 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 10,287 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 S Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.6% 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 (7.4% 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.
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 2010 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 60,180 2010 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by suspension (8.6%).
Does the 2010 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,180 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.