Ford S Max (2009)
2009 Ford S Max
CarHunch analysed 8,894 real MOT records for the 2009 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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The 2009 Ford S-Max is noticeably less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.4% compared to 80% nationally—and this is a significant concern given that nearly 58% of these vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. Petrol and diesel versions perform almost identically (75.2% vs 73.3%), so fuel type isn't a deciding factor here.
At around 90,000 miles, these S-Max examples are showing their age badly, averaging 4.65 failures and 30 advisories per test. The high advisory count suggests widespread wear across suspension, brakes, and trim items rather than catastrophic failures, but the dangerous defect rate is substantially above normal and indicates you should have any example inspected by a specialist before purchase, paying particular attention to steering, braking, and seatbelt systems.
The 2009 Ford S Max has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.4% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 8,894 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 8,894 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2009.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 8,894 Ford S Max cars.
Before you buy a 2009 Ford S Max
Based on MOT data from 8,894 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
57.9% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (95%) | 8,459 | 73.3% | 4.68 |
| Petrol (5%) | 434 | 75.4% | 4.15 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 99,579 Ford S Max vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2009 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.
Half of all 2009 Ford S Max vehicles fall between 74,042 and 107,462 miles.
2009 Ford S Max — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 56% of 2009 Ford S Maxs are still active.
4,646 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 56% of the peak remain.
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
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Compare with another model
See how the 2009 Ford S Max stacks up against a rival.