2018 Ford S-Max — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,811 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Ford S-Max, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 87.7% was below the average for MPVs of a similar age (88.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 20.7% in the 150k+ group versus 8.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 806 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.9% | 536 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 516 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.4% | 475 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.9% | 123 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 97 |
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 | 571 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 491 |
| 3 | Wipers | 479 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 218 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 167 |
| 6 | Washers | 141 |
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 | 27.2% | 3,754 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.6% | 2,701 |
| 3 | Other defects | 13.7% | 1,892 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.9% | 537 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 308 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 294 |
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 | 4,162 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 6,779 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 2,258 | 15.6% |
| 90-120k | 453 | 15.9% |
| 120-150k | 100 | 12.0% |
| 150k+ | 58 | 20.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,052 | 12.4% |
| Petrol | 1,759 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,796 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 2,762 | 11.6% |
| 2023 | 2,782 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 2,752 | 14.1% |
| 2025 | 2,719 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 S-Max
Before buying a 2018 Ford S-Max, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.8% 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 (3.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2018 Ford S-Maxs pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 13,811 2018 Ford S-Max MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford S-Max?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by visibility (3.9%).
Does the 2018 S-Max get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 20.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,811 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.