Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2007 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 2007 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 2007 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 2007 Ford S Max vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

53% 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 2007 Ford S Max reliable?

Based on MOT data from 11,432 vehicles, the 2007 Ford S Max has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2007 Ford S Max?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2007 Ford S Max are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (101% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (73.4% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (71.3% 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 2007 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 (2007)

11,432 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.7% first-time pass rate

2007 Ford S Max

CarHunch analysed 11,432 real MOT records for the 2007 Ford S Max. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 2007 Ford S-MAX passes its MOT first time in 72.7% of cases, noticeably below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 53.2% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above what you'd expect for a family car of this age. Petrol models fare slightly better at 74.5% versus diesels at 72.5%, but neither fuel type makes a meaningful difference here.

At just under 96,000 miles median, these cars are running within typical mileage for their age, yet they're racking up nearly five failures and 31 advisories per vehicle, suggesting that age-related wear is catching up fast. If you're considering a 2007 S-MAX, budget for significant suspension, brake, and electrical work—and get a full pre-purchase inspection to identify any hidden damage before committing.

The 2007 Ford S Max has a below-average first-time pass rate (72.7% 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

72.7%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

53.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.99

Over 17.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

96k

Middle half: 79k–116k

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 30.7 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 11,432 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 11,432 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 101%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 73.4%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

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

Other issues 56.2%

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

Suspension & steering 38.8%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded

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 2007.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 11,432 Ford S Max cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

74.5%

Petrol

1,435 vehicles

72.5%

Diesel

9,995 vehicles

Before you buy a 2007 Ford S Max

Based on MOT data from 11,432 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 53.2% 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 →
📄 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 (87%)	9,995	72.5%	5.05
Petrol (13%)	1,435	74.5%	4.58

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 2007 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.

95,949

typical

79,451

low mileage

115,609

high mileage

Half of all 2007 Ford S Max vehicles fall between 79,451 and 115,609 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 79,451 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.

✓ 79,451–115,609 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2007 Ford S Maxs sit.

⚠ Over 156,072 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2007 Ford S Max — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 29% of 2007 Ford S Maxs are still active.

Numbers are declining — 3,106 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (29% 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

17.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.99

Avg failures per vehicle

30.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

2006 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 2007 Ford S Max stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on