Petrol Ford S-Max: MOT pass rate

73.9% of petrol Ford S-Max pass the MOT first time, measured across 6,630 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 87,189.

Petrol against the other Ford S-Max versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Ford S-Max specifically, petrol is the strongest at 73.9%, and this petrol version sits 3.4 points above the 70.5% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol Ford S-Max is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol Ford S-Max had covered 87,189 miles at test, against 106,243 for the diesel. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Ford S-Max page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Ford S-Max

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 1.4% of tests (3.96x the national rate for this defect)
2. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.5% of tests (2.96x the national rate for this defect)
3. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 1.4% of tests (2.71x the national rate for this defect)
4. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.1% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this defect)
5. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.3% of tests (1.8x the national rate for this defect)
6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.8% of tests (1.75x the national rate for this defect)
7. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.5% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.6% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this defect)
9. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.8% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this defect)
10. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.6% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)

From 6,717 DVSA-tracked petrol Ford S-Max tests, 2024, split out from the Ford S-Max's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.18% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Ford S-Max

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 8% of tests (2.81x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 13.9% of tests (2.69x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 11.7% of tests (2.49x the national rate for this defect)
4. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 6.4% of tests (2.4x the national rate for this defect)
5. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 16.7% of tests (1.79x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 2% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 8.3% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 38.4% of tests (1.44x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 4.5% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this defect)
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 14.4% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this defect)

From 6,717 DVSA-tracked petrol Ford S-Max tests, 2024.

Other Ford S-Max fuel types

• Diesel Ford S-Max - 70.1%

All Ford S-Max MOT data · Every model