Ford B-MAX
From 67,640 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, caused 2,267 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2,267 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 2,230 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 1,512 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 1,192 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 1,108 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 920 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 913 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 704 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 548 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 547 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 46.1% of B-MAX failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 12.7% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £111.
Ford B-MAX on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 552 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 551. At this rate, roughly 94.5 years until none remain.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 51,452 | 721 | +0 | -140 | -140 |
| 2025 Q2 | 51,592 | 721 | +1 | -180 | -179 |
| 2025 Q1 | 51,823 | 669 | +0 | -202 | -202 |
| 2024 Q4 | 52,090 | 604 | +0 | -30 | -30 |
| 2024 Q3 | 52,201 | 523 | +0 | -151 | -151 |
| 2024 Q2 | 52,378 | 497 | +0 | -133 | -133 |
| 2024 Q1 | 52,543 | 465 | +0 | -187 | -187 |
| 2023 Q4 | 52,783 | 412 | +0 | -48 | -48 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| B-Max Zetec Auto | Petrol | 8,625 | 17% |
| B-Max Titanium Auto | Petrol | 7,699 | 15% |
| B-Max Zetec Turbo | Petrol | 7,255 | 14% |
| B-Max Zetec | Petrol | 7,124 | 14% |
| B-Max Titanium Turbo | Petrol | 6,028 | 12% |
| B-Max Zetec Tdci | Diesel | 3,888 | 8% |
| B-Max Titanium Tdci | Diesel | 3,251 | 6% |
| B-Max Zetec Navigator | Petrol | 1,600 | 3% |
| B-Max Titanium Navigator | Petrol | 1,092 | 2% |
| B-Max Titanium Navigator Auto | Petrol | 910 | 2% |
| B-Max Titanium X Auto | Petrol | 773 | 2% |
| B-Max Titanium X | Petrol | 715 | 1% |
| B-Max Zetec Navigator Auto | Petrol | 666 | 1% |
| B-Max Titanium X Tdci | Diesel | 312 | <1% |
| B-Max Zetec Red Edition | Petrol | 210 | <1% |
| B-Max Titanium Navigator Tdci | Diesel | 177 | <1% |
| B-Max Titanium X Navigator | Petrol | 176 | <1% |
| B-Max Studio | Petrol | 173 | <1% |
| B-Max Titanium X Navigator A | Petrol | 172 | <1% |
| B-Max Zetec White Edition | Petrol | 168 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 75.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2017 | 79% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2016 | 79.4% | stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 78.1% | stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
3 earlier years
| 2014 | 74.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2013 | 72.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2012 | 74.7% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
Typical mileage
Half of all B-MAXs tested had between 39,774 and 85,366 miles on the clock.
At 66,043 median miles, the B-MAX has 0.037 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Ford models
| Ford Fiesta | 72.9% |
| Ford Focus | 74.7% |
| Ford Transit | 70.4% |
| Ford Kuga | 82.2% |
| Ford Mondeo | 73.8% |
Common questions
What is the Ford B-MAX MOT pass rate?
The Ford B-MAX has a 75.8% MOT pass rate based on 67,640 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford B-MAX?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford B-MAX is stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, which caused 2,267 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Ford B-MAXs are on UK roads?
There are 51,452 Ford B-MAXs currently licensed on UK roads, with 721 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford B-MAX at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford B-MAX is 66,043 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 39,774 and 85,366 miles.
Buying a used B-MAX?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 75.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £111 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.