Ford

Ford B Max (2016)

7,272 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.8% first-time pass rate

2016 Ford B Max

CarHunch analysed 7,272 real MOT records for the 2016 Ford B Max. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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On this page
AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Ford B-Max passes MOT at 85.8%, comfortably above the UK average of 80%, which is a solid result—but the 28.2% of vehicles that have suffered a dangerous defect is a genuine concern for buyers, suggesting structural or safety issues crop up more often than typical. Petrol versions are noticeably more reliable than diesels, with an 86.3% pass rate compared to 82.1%, so if you're choosing between them, petrol is the safer bet.

These B-Maxes average just under 33,000 miles, which is reasonable for eight-year-old cars, and the 1.34 failures per vehicle suggests mechanical problems are relatively straightforward when they do occur. The high advisory rate of 6.4 per car indicates wear and tear accumulates steadily, so budget for consumables and have a full inspection report before buying—pay special attention to the brake and suspension sections.

The 2016 Ford B Max has a decent first-time pass rate (85.8%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
85.8%
UK average ~80%
Around average
Dangerous (ever)
28.2%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
1.34
Over 8.4 tests on record
High
Typical mileage
29k
Middle half: 20k–39k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 85.8% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.4 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 7,272 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 7,272 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 40.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 31.2%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Lighting 13.6%
Offside Stop lamp(s) not working · Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working · Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working · …
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.
Other issues 12.8%
Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION
Suspension & steering 11.6%
Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken · Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 7,272 Ford B Max cars.

UK

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 4.2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

86.3%
Petrol
6,298 vehicles
82.1%
Diesel
974 vehicles

Before you buy a 2016 Ford B Max

Based on MOT data from 7,272 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 28.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (87%) 6,298 86.3% 1.28
Diesel (13%) 974 82.1% 1.74

Colour Breakdown

Based on 55,755 Ford B Max vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 25.8%
14,363
Blue 21.2%
11,818
Black 14.2%
7,944
White 12.3%
6,881
Red 10.6%
5,933
Grey 8.9%
4,980
Gold 6%
3,372
Brown 0.3%
186
Bronze 0.3%
172
Orange 0.1%
62
Beige 0.1%
44

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Ford B Max vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

28,901
typical
20,189
low mileage
39,405
high mileage

Half of all 2016 Ford B Max vehicles fall between 20,189 and 39,405 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 20,189 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
20,189–39,405 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Ford B Maxs sit.
Over 53,196 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Ford B Max — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Ford B Maxs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 6,964 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

393 6,964 2018 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2018–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

8.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.34
Avg failures per vehicle
6.4
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Ford B Max: All B Max years → Which year to buy? →
2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018

Or browse all models: Ford →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Ford B Max stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing