2021 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Ford S Max passed 86.2% of its 1,759 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 10.4% of the time, so this is 3.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.6%) and tyres (5.4%) 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 60 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.5% once past 60-90k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.6% in 2023 to 13.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 98 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.4% | 95 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 55 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 25 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 60 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 54 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 53 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 5 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 32 |
| 6 | Wipers | 21 |
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 | 23.5% | 414 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.1% | 300 |
| 3 | Other defects | 11.1% | 195 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 47 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 46 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 24 |
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 | 768 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 814 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 149 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,590 | 14.3% |
| Petrol | 103 | 11.7% |
| Hybrid | 64 | 6.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 96 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 844 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 806 | 13.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 S Max
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 (3.1% 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 2021 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
86.2% of the 1,759 2021 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (5.4%).
Does the 2021 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 19.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,759 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.