2015 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
19,846 MOT tests on the 2015 Ford S Max are in this dataset, and 82.3% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail at 17.1%, so the 2015 S Max sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (8.6%) and lighting & signalling (6.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and tyre pressure monitoring system — tread depth alone was recorded 830 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.3% once past 150k — 2.3× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.7pp more often than petrol ones (17.8% vs 16.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.6% | 1,705 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 1,324 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.0% | 985 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 671 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.2% | 429 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 282 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 830 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 824 |
| 3 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 510 |
| 4 | Wipers | 477 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 473 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 426 |
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 | 29.6% | 5,877 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.9% | 4,549 |
| 3 | Other defects | 15.3% | 3,045 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 1,854 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.6% | 1,299 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.5% | 895 |
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 | 563 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 6,652 | 15.2% |
| 60-90k | 8,094 | 18.9% |
| 90-120k | 3,233 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 907 | 21.5% |
| 150k+ | 395 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 18,433 | 17.8% |
| Petrol | 1,413 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,883 | 15.1% |
| 2022 | 3,916 | 16.3% |
| 2023 | 3,977 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 4,056 | 19.6% |
| 2025 | 4,014 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2015 S Max
On a 2015 S Max, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (8.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2015 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 19,846 2015 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ford S Max?
Tyres, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.7%).
Does the 2015 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 19,846 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.