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Ford B-Max reliability

D · Below average

MOT pass rates and common problems from 460,147 MOT tests of cars first registered 2012–2018.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
74.9%pass first time
−3.8 ptsvs typical car
Beats 22%of cars
460,147MOT tests

Verdict

The Ford B-Max passes its MOT first time on 74.9% of tests, 3.8 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (78.7%). That puts it ahead of 22% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2012 B-Max does best (beats 32% of cars) and the 2017 worst (beats 4%).

Of its engines, the 1.4 Petrol does best (beats 32%) and the 1.5 Diesel worst (beats 7%).

Better than average on brakes, body & structure.

Watch these weak spots

Lights & electrics1.7×as often as a typical car
Emissions & leaks1.3×as often as a typical car
Brake lights5.3×as often as a typical car
Suspension ball joints2.5×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%60%70%80%90%100%3456789101112131487%82%76%72%66%63%
Ford B-MaxTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2012
Beats 32%
2013
Beats 25%
2014
Beats 25%
2015
Beats 24%
2016
Beats 18%
2017
Beats 4%
2018
Beats 2%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol2012–2017167,99577.7%Beats 27%D
1.0 Petrol2012–2018150,90874.6%Beats 19%E
1.4 Petrol2012–201769,29375.9%Beats 32%D
1.5 Diesel2012–201736,25067.7%Beats 7%E
1.6 Diesel2012–201535,70168.3%Beats 18%E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 1.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 5.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 12.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 5.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 3.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 12.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−5.2 ptsTyres: 5.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.7 ptsBrakes: 3.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.0 ptsSuspension: 5.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.6 ptsExhaust: 1.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.4 ptsSuspension: 5.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 3.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 5.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 12.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 1.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 12.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−5.2 ptsTyres: 5.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−0.7 ptsBrakes: 3.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+1.0 ptsSuspension: 5.8% of tests fail on suspension, against 5.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−0.6 ptsExhaust: 1.8% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−0.4 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Lights: 12.1% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
12.1% vs 6.9%
Tyres
5.9% vs 5.2%
Suspension
5.8% vs 5.2%
Visibility
3.6% vs 3.9%
Brakes
3.1% vs 4.0%
Emissions & leaks
1.8% vs 1.4%
Steering
1.0% vs 1.0%
Body & structure
0.8% vs 1.5%
Seat belts & airbags
0.6% vs 0.4%
Wheels
0.1% vs 0.2%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Brake lights 5.3× typical
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Suspension ball joints 2.5× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) 2.1× typical
    Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Coil springs
    Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil (often the bottom one) and listen for clunks over bumps.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k94%82%73%65%59%56%56%
Ford B-MaxTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Brake lights7.4%1.4%5.3×
Tyre damage & cracking3.1%3.0%1.0×
Coil springs2.5%1.9%1.3×
Suspension ball joints2.3%0.9%2.5×
Windscreen wipers2.1%2.1%1.0×
Tyre tread depth1.9%1.8%1.1×
Brake pads1.8%1.6%1.2×
Headlight aim1.8%2.0%0.9×
Headlight bulbs & units1.4%1.2%1.2×
Windscreen washers1.2%1.5%0.8×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning69.8
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn26.1
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened25.3
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen21.1
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements19.4
A tyre seriously damaged18.3
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm17.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements17.7
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2018 Ford B-Max1 engine78.9% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol3,17178.9%Beats 2%E
2017 Ford B-Max4 engines79.4% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol17,44179.1%Beats 4%E
1.6 Petrol16,84880.8%Beats 5%E
1.4 Petrol3,07679.5%Beats 4%E
1.5 Diesel2,73372.7%Beats 1%E
2016 Ford B-Max4 engines80.2% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol24,05781.9%Beats 22%D
1.0 Petrol19,02379.3%Beats 15%E
1.5 Diesel7,17874.7%Beats 7%E
1.4 Petrol6,31883.0%Beats 38%D
2015 Ford B-Max5 engines78.4% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol38,78780.0%Beats 28%D
1.0 Petrol25,32077.4%Beats 19%E
1.4 Petrol11,64380.5%Beats 36%D
1.6 Diesel6,32574.2%Beats 19%E
1.5 Diesel6,09372.8%Beats 10%E
2014 Ford B-Max5 engines74.5% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.6 Petrol39,53177.3%Beats 34%D
1.0 Petrol35,66274.4%Beats 26%D
1.4 Petrol19,77976.4%Beats 34%D
1.6 Diesel12,99669.3%Beats 15%E
1.5 Diesel7,15763.3%Beats 3%E
2013 Ford B-Max5 engines70.4% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol42,92470.1%Beats 25%D
1.6 Petrol41,88873.2%Beats 30%D
1.4 Petrol23,34871.8%Beats 31%D
1.6 Diesel12,46765.9%Beats 21%D
1.5 Diesel10,45662.9%Beats 11%E
2012 Ford B-Max5 engines68.9% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.0 Petrol7,36768.2%Beats 27%D
1.6 Petrol6,88473.2%Beats 44%C
1.4 Petrol5,12971.4%Beats 43%C
1.6 Diesel3,91363.1%Beats 22%D
1.5 Diesel2,63363.1%Beats 19%E

FAQ

What is the Ford B-Max MOT pass rate?

74.9% of MOT tests on the Ford B-Max were passed first time, based on 460,147 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2012–2018. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 78.7% of the time.

Is the Ford B-Max reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 22% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Ford B-Max year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2012 B-Max does best for its age and mileage: it beats 32% of cars on UK roads. The 2017 does worst: it beats 4%.

Which Ford B-Max engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.4 Petrol does best: it beats 32% of cars on UK roads. The 1.5 Diesel does worst: it beats 7%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Ford B-Max?

The most common failure items are brake lights, tyre damage & cracking, coil springs. Compared with similar cars, brake lights comes up 5.3× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.