2022 Ford S Max — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2022 Ford S Max passed 87.8% of its 889 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 10.3% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.8% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of tyres, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, tread depth and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 49 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 78 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.5% | 49 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.9% | 17 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 9 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.8% | 7 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 49 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 26 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 13 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 12 |
| 6 | Wipers | 7 |
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 | 24.0% | 213 |
| 2 | Other defects | 10.2% | 91 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 64 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 22 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 20 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 5 |
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 | 599 | 10.5% |
| 30-60k | 271 | 15.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 617 | 11.2% |
| Diesel | 270 | 14.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 52 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 836 | 12.1% |
What to check before buying a 2022 S Max
On a 2022 S Max, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.5% 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 (1.9% 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 2022 Ford S Maxs pass their MOT?
87.8% of the 889 2022 Ford S Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Ford S Max?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by tyres (5.5%).
Does the 2022 S Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.5% in the 0-30k band to 15.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 889 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.