2013 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Ford S Max passed 76.2% of its 41,029 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.4%) 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 2,404 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.0% in the 0-30k band and 25.7% in the 150k+ band, a 13.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 6.6pp more often than petrol ones (24.0% vs 17.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 33.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 21.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 3,873 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.6% | 3,105 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.7% | 2,750 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 2,479 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.2% | 2,128 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.8% | 1,552 |
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 | 2,404 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,009 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 1,972 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 1,558 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,494 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,314 |
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 | 33.0% | 13,531 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.9% | 11,055 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.5% | 10,456 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.7% | 6,425 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 5,966 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 2,954 |
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 | 234 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 4,840 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 15,921 | 23.1% |
| 90-120k | 13,004 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 4,891 | 26.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,130 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 39,928 | 24.0% |
| Petrol | 1,101 | 17.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,316 | 21.8% |
| 2022 | 8,382 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 8,223 | 23.6% |
| 2024 | 8,214 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 7,894 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2013 S Max
On a 2013 S Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.4% 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 (6.7% 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 2013 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
76.2% of the 41,029 2013 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.4% of tests, followed by tyres (7.6%).
Does the 2013 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,029 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.