Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 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 2018 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 2018 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 2018 Ford S Max vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

31% 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 2018 Ford S Max reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,432 vehicles, the 2018 Ford S Max has a first-time MOT pass rate of 86.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Ford S Max?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Ford S Max are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (59.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (58.6% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (51.1% 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 2018 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 (2018)

2,432 real MOT outcomes analysed • 86.8% first-time pass rate

2018 Ford S Max

CarHunch analysed 2,432 real MOT records for the 2018 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 Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Ford S-Max passes its MOT slightly better than the UK average, with 85.2% of vehicles getting through on first attempt versus 80% nationally—solid reliability for a seven-year-old family MPV. However, nearly a third of these cars (31.2%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a serious concern for any buyer and warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

These S-Max examples are showing typical mileage for their age at 43,825 miles on average, and while they average fewer than one failure per test, the 6.7 advisories per vehicle suggest accumulated wear across multiple systems. Check the service history carefully and budget for suspension, brake, and lighting work—the most common advisory areas on seven-year-old family haulers like this.

The 2018 Ford S Max has a decent first-time pass rate (86.8%), 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

86.8%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

31.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.89

Over 6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

42k

Middle half: 32k–53k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 86.8% 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 6.7 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 2,432 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,432 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 59.1%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear 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.

Brake wear 51.1%

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

Other issues 27.3%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Offside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt · Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,432 Ford S Max cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Ford S Max

Based on MOT data from 2,432 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 31.2% 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 (88%)	2,129	86.7%	0.9
Petrol (12%)	303	87.6%	0.84

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 2018 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.

41,964

typical

32,303

low mileage

53,279

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Ford S Max vehicles fall between 32,303 and 53,279 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 32,303 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.

✓ 32,303–53,279 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Ford S Maxs sit.

⚠ Over 71,926 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Ford S Max — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Ford S Maxs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 2,298 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

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.89

Avg failures per vehicle

6.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Ford S Max stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing