2019 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 Ford S Max passed 85.0% of its 10,968 recorded MOT tests. Against MPVs of a similar age (11.5% fail rate), the 2019 S Max comes out 3.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.0%) and tyres (6.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, tread depth and wipers — headlamp alone was recorded 541 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2019 S Max fails 10.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.7% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.7 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 14.8% of the time against 16.0% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 772 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.0% | 654 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.2% | 462 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.9% | 315 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.1% | 225 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 196 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 541 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 457 |
| 3 | Wipers | 449 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 339 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 175 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 165 |
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 | 27.4% | 3,003 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.4% | 1,904 |
| 3 | Other defects | 13.1% | 1,440 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.7% | 409 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 294 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 223 |
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 | 3,571 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 5,563 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,502 | 18.6% |
| 90-120k | 238 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 71 | 12.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,560 | 14.8% |
| Petrol | 2,408 | 16.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 141 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 2,708 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 2,698 | 14.2% |
| 2024 | 2,714 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 2,707 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 2019 S Max
On a 2019 S Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
- Visibility (4.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2019 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 10,968 2019 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by tyres (6.0%).
Does the 2019 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 12.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,968 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.