Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2006 Ford S 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 2006 Ford S 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 2006 Ford S 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 2006 Ford S Max vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

51% 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 2006 Ford S Max reliable?

Based on MOT data from 5,497 vehicles, the 2006 Ford S Max has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2006 Ford S Max?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2006 Ford S Max are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (99.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (88.6% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (86.5% 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 2006 Ford S 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 S Max (2006)

5,497 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72% first-time pass rate

2006 Ford S Max

CarHunch analysed 5,497 real MOT records for the 2006 Ford S Max. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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 2006 Ford S-MAX falls notably short of the UK average with a 72.0% first-time pass rate against 80%, and over half of these vehicles (51.0%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a serious red flag for any buyer. Petrol versions perform marginally better at 74.1% than diesels at 71.6%, but the difference is modest and both lag considerably.

At 93,000 miles median mileage, these cars are running close to what you'd expect for their age, yet they're averaging 5.18 failures and a substantial 30.4 advisories per test, suggesting widespread wear and deterioration. If you're considering one, a comprehensive pre-purchase inspection by a specialist is essential—focus particularly on structural and brake system integrity given the dangerous defect prevalence.

The 2006 Ford S Max has a below-average first-time pass rate (72% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

72%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

51%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

5.18

Over 17.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

93k

Middle half: 78k–112k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 30.4 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 5,497 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 5,497 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 99.6%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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.

Tyre wear 88.6%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 74.9%

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · …

Suspension & steering 32.7%

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement

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 2006.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,497 Ford S Max cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

74.1%

Petrol

899 vehicles

71.6%

Diesel

4,597 vehicles

Before you buy a 2006 Ford S Max

Based on MOT data from 5,497 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 51% 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
Diesel (84%)	4,597	71.6%	5.28
Petrol (16%)	899	74.1%	4.64

Colour Breakdown

Based on 99,579 Ford S Max vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 29.4%

29,244

Black 24.1%

23,949

Grey 16.3%

16,235

Blue 14.9%

14,825

White 9.2%

9,211

Red 3.6%

3,626

Green 0.9%

900

Brown 0.7%

719

Orange 0.6%

627

Gold 0.2%

175

Purple 0%

Beige 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Ford S 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.

93,084

typical

77,827

low mileage

112,222

high mileage

Half of all 2006 Ford S Max vehicles fall between 77,827 and 112,222 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 77,827 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.

✓ 77,827–112,222 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2006 Ford S Maxs sit.

⚠ Over 151,499 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2006 Ford S Max — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 18% of 2006 Ford S Maxs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 902 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (18% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* 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

17.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

5.18

Avg failures per vehicle

30.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2006 Ford S Max stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on