Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2017 Ford B Max?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2017 Ford B Max?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2017 Ford B Max?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2017 Ford B Max vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

24% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2017 Ford B Max reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,811 vehicles, the 2017 Ford B Max has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2017 Ford B Max?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2017 Ford B Max are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (40.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (39.7% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (31.2% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2017 Ford B Max?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ford B Max (2017)

5,811 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.9% first-time pass rate

2017 Ford B Max

CarHunch analysed 5,811 real MOT records for the 2017 Ford B Max. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2017 Ford B-Max passes its MOT first time at 85.9%, which is a solid 5.9 percentage points above the UK average and suggests decent baseline reliability. However, nearly a quarter of these vehicles (23.7%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a meaningful concern for a buyer—that's well above what you'd want to see, and petrol models perform noticeably better than diesels (86.2% vs 81.7% pass rate).

These cars are running around 29,000 miles on average for their age, which is fairly typical, and they're averaging 1.19 failures per MOT with 5.4 advisories each—suggesting minor wear issues rather than structural problems. If you're considering one, get a full pre-purchase inspection and specifically ask the seller or mechanic about any previous dangerous defects recorded on the service history.

The 2017 Ford B Max passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (85.9%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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

85.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

23.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.19

Over 7.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

26k

Middle half: 18k–36k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 85.9% 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 5.4 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 5,811 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,811 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 2017.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,811 Ford B Max cars.

Before you buy a 2017 Ford B Max

Based on MOT data from 5,811 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 23.7% 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (93%)	5,409	86.3%	1.16
Diesel (7%)	402	81.7%	1.6

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%

Beige 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 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.

25,994

typical

17,905

low mileage

35,856

high mileage

Half of all 2017 Ford B Max vehicles fall between 17,905 and 35,856 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 17,905 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.

✓ 17,905–35,856 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2017 Ford B Maxs sit.

⚠ Over 48,405 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2017 Ford B Max — Still on the Road

Almost all 2017 Ford B Maxs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 5,619 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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

7.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.19

Avg failures per vehicle

5.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford B Max: All B Max years → Which year to buy? →

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2017 Ford B Max stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?