2011 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 42,654 MOT tests, the 2011 Ford S Max recorded a 76.0% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 24.3%, so the 2011 S Max sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.7%) and tyres (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, joints and tread depth — pins and bushes alone was recorded 2,419 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 20.7% in the 0-30k band and 25.8% in the 150k+ band, a 5.1-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 22.8% of the time against 24.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 33.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 4,144 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.8% | 3,327 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.7% | 3,284 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 2,950 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.1% | 2,183 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 1,320 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 2,419 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,260 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,024 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,454 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,425 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,216 |
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 | 33.3% | 14,210 |
| 2 | Tyres | 33.3% | 14,188 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.6% | 10,916 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.5% | 7,055 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 5,840 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 5,091 |
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 | 87 | 20.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,630 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 9,565 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 15,386 | 24.2% |
| 120-150k | 10,130 | 25.7% |
| 150k+ | 5,836 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 36,615 | 24.3% |
| Petrol | 6,039 | 22.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,975 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 8,902 | 23.4% |
| 2023 | 8,710 | 23.7% |
| 2024 | 8,286 | 24.8% |
| 2025 | 7,781 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2011 S Max
On a 2011 S Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.8% 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.
- Suspension (7.7% 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.
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 2011 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 42,654 2011 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by tyres (7.8%).
Does the 2011 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.7% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 42,654 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.