MOT failure data · 2025

Ford C-MAX MOT problems

Across every Ford C-MAX that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick, on 5.97% of failure items. The broadest problem area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 21.46%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Ford C-MAX MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick	Brakes	5.97%
2	Tread depth tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm	Tyres	5.61%
3	Condition has ply or cords exposed	Tyres	4.75%
4	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	4.62%
5	Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis, structure	4.26%
6	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	3.49%
7	Stop lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	3.25%
8	Condition has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords	Tyres	2.87%
9	Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively	Visibility	2.67%
10	Coil spring fractured or broken	Suspension	2.52%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Ford C-MAX, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Ford C-MAX buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Ford C-MAX?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Ford models

Ford C-MAX MOT FAQs

What does a Ford C-MAX most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Ford C-MAX cars failing their 2025 MOT was "brake pads less than 1.5 mm thick", appearing on 5.97% of failure items.

Does this mean my Ford C-MAX will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Ford C-MAX that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Ford C-MAX passed 74.21% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Ford C-MAX's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.