Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2020 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 2020 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 2020 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.

Is the 2020 Ford S Max reliable?

Based on MOT data from 1,161 vehicles, the 2020 Ford S Max has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2020 Ford S Max?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2020 Ford S Max are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (35.9% of vehicles), Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (32.3% 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 2020 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 (2020)

1,161 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.1% first-time pass rate

2020 Ford S Max

CarHunch analysed 1,161 real MOT records for the 2020 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? →

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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 2020 Ford S-MAX is a solid performer, with an 84.6% first-time pass rate that sits 4.6 percentage points above the UK average—a genuine sign of durability in a family MPV. However, 19% of vehicles have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is worth noting if you're buying secondhand; this isn't alarming but does warrant a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

At an average mileage of 35,660 miles for a four-year-old vehicle, these S-MAXs have been driven relatively hard, yet still return fewer than one failure per car on test. The 3.5 advisories per vehicle suggest minor wear items rather than structural problems—typical for a high-use family hauler—so budget for routine maintenance but don't expect major shocks if you buy one with full service history.

The 2020 Ford S Max passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (87.1%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

87.1%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

19%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.57

Over 3.6 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

33k

Middle half: 25k–45k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 87.1% 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 3.5 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 1,161 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 1,161 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 35.9%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside 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 32.3%

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

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

Other issues 14.9%

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

Lighting 5.2%

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2020.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 1,161 Ford S Max cars.

Before you buy a 2020 Ford S Max

Based on MOT data from 1,161 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 19% 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 (99%)	1,154	87.1%	0.58

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 2020 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.

33,129

typical

24,681

low mileage

44,913

high mileage

Half of all 2020 Ford S Max vehicles fall between 24,681 and 44,913 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 24,681 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.

✓ 24,681–44,913 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2020 Ford S Maxs sit.

⚠ Over 60,632 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2020 Ford S Max — Still on the Road

Almost all 2020 Ford S Maxs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,089 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 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

3.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.57

Avg failures per vehicle

3.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Average reliability — agree?