2012 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
46,184 MOT tests on the 2012 Ford S Max are in this dataset, and 75.8% of them passed. That is 1.6 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 22.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.5%) and tyres (7.6%) 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 2,704 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.2% versus 15.1%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.6% of the time against 24.3% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 33.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 4,367 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.6% | 3,520 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.2% | 3,331 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 3,151 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.1% | 2,361 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.3% | 1,542 |
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 | 2,704 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,686 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,083 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,635 |
| 5 | Track rod end | 1,486 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,425 |
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 | 33.4% | 15,406 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.9% | 14,273 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.9% | 11,965 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.8% | 7,302 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 6,638 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 4,698 |
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 | 146 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 3,111 | 19.0% |
| 60-90k | 14,249 | 22.8% |
| 90-120k | 16,354 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 8,354 | 26.8% |
| 150k+ | 3,952 | 25.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 42,997 | 24.3% |
| Petrol | 3,187 | 23.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,566 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 9,448 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 9,440 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 9,021 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 8,709 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 S Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.6% 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 (7.2% 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 2012 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 46,184 2012 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.5% of tests, followed by tyres (7.6%).
Does the 2012 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 25.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 46,184 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.