2014 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 41,746 MOT tests, the 2014 Ford S Max recorded a 77.7% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 19.0% of the time, so this is 3.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.6%) and tyres (8.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, tread depth and pins and bushes — joints alone was recorded 2,241 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 24.5% versus 11.7%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 19.5% fail against 22.4% for diesel, a 2.9-point gap across 41,746 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 32.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 19.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 3,988 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.2% | 3,417 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 2,506 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.0% | 2,099 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 1,777 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 1,269 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,241 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 1,997 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 1,607 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,556 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 1,520 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 1,146 |
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 | 32.8% | 13,671 |
| 2 | Brakes | 25.2% | 10,515 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.5% | 8,159 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.0% | 6,674 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 4,945 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 2,550 |
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 | 443 | 11.7% |
| 30-60k | 8,432 | 18.8% |
| 60-90k | 17,439 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 10,614 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 3,429 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 1,386 | 24.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 40,320 | 22.4% |
| Petrol | 1,426 | 19.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,302 | 19.7% |
| 2022 | 8,376 | 21.1% |
| 2023 | 8,572 | 23.1% |
| 2024 | 8,405 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 8,091 | 23.7% |
What to check before buying a 2014 S Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (8.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2014 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
77.7% of the 41,746 2014 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by tyres (8.2%).
Does the 2014 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.7% in the 0-30k band to 24.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 41,746 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.