2020 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,027 MOT tests, the 2020 Ford S Max recorded an 87.2% pass rate. That is 1.9 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.1%) and tyres (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp alone was recorded 170 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.5% in the 0-30k band and 17.4% in the 90-120k band, a 8.9-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.6% of tests failed in 2022 against 13.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 244 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 212 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.3% | 134 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 95 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 68 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 44 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 170 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 157 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 126 |
| 4 | Wipers | 83 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 68 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 60 |
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 | 25.0% | 1,006 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.7% | 674 |
| 3 | Other defects | 10.5% | 425 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 123 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 55 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 32 |
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 | 1,684 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,913 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 373 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 46 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 58 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 1,357 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 1,286 | 12.2% |
| 2025 | 1,308 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 S Max
On a 2020 S Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Brakes (3.3% 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 2020 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
87.2% of the 4,027 2020 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.1% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2020 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 17.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,027 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.