Reliability report
Ford C-Max reliability and common faults
Based on 183,397 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
25.8%
fail rate · average 26.4%
about average
105,461 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
47.2%
with defects · average 50.6%
better than average
66,206 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
51.8%
first-time pass · average 58.5%
much worse than average
11,730 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Ford C-Max
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Driving controls
Wheels
Tyres
Lights and electrics
Body and structure
Exhaust and emissions
Plates and identification
Visibility
Brakes
Steering
Suspension
Seat belts and airbags
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre insufficient tread
- 2Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 3Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 6Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 7Sidelight not working (properly)
- 8Tyre damaged
- 9Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 10Turn signal color incorrect/not allowed
- 11Driveshaft boot damaged and not sealing
- 12Rear light not working (properly)
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | — | 22.7% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 14.3% avg 15.3% | 34.7% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 21.3% avg 22.9% | 41.8% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 29.0% avg 30.3% | 51.4% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 38.1% avg 34.6% | 60.0% avg 64.7% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | C-Max | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 83.3% | 83.2% | 36 |
| 2018 | 78.2% | 79.5% | 78 |
| 2017 | 64.4% | 76.6% | 295 |
| 2016 | 64.8% | 72.8% | 463 |
| 2015 | 56.2% | 71.1% | 577 |
| 2014 | 58.9% | 68.0% | 644 |
| 2013 | 53.4% | 65.9% | 1,001 |
| 2012 | 61.6% | 63.7% | 933 |
| 2011 | 56.3% | 61.2% | 1,339 |
| 2010 | 50.8% | 57.3% | 868 |
| 2009 | 41.9% | 54.5% | 1,245 |
| 2008 | 46.9% | 52.4% | 1,931 |
| 2007 | 49.1% | 50.6% | 631 |
| 2006 | 47.1% | 48.7% | 414 |
| 2005 | 46.7% | 46.6% | 475 |
Ford C-Max – FAQs
How reliable is the Ford C-Max?+
In the UK the Ford C-Max fails 25.8% of MOT tests, against an average of 26.4% for cars of the same age – about average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 47.2% of APK inspections (average there 50.6%) – better than average. In Lithuania 51.8% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 58.5%) – much worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Ford C-Max?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: tyres.
What should I check when buying a used Ford C-Max?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Ford models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons (licence).