MOT performance
Ford B-Max diesel: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 17,192 MOT tests on diesel Ford B-Maxs in 2023–2024 (on average 8.8 years old at test, median 65,579 miles), 63.9% passed first time, against 72.6% of 92,139 petrol Ford B-Max tests. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, diesel Ford B-Maxs failed 35% more often than comparable cars — 1.35× against 1.16× for the Ford B-Max as a whole.
17,192 MOT tests on 8,487 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 63.9% | ±0.7 pts (95%), n = 17,192 |
| All Ford B-Maxs | 71.2% | n = 109,334 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.35× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00; Ford B-Max overall 1.16× |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 9.0% | n = 17,192 |
| Average age at test | 8.8 years | n = 17,192 |
| Registration years covered | 2011–2018 | DVSA first-use date |
Diesel against the other Ford B-Max fuels
Official DVSA test results by fuel, with 73 Auto's adjusted ratio (failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel).
| Fuel | Tests | Average age | First-time pass | vs similar cars | Dangerous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 92,139 | 8.4 yrs | 72.6% | +12% | 6.3% |
| Diesel | 17,192 | 8.8 yrs | 63.9% | +35% | 9.0% |
Where diesel Ford B-Maxs differ
- Noise, emissions and leaks: diesel Ford B-Maxs failed 173% more often than the Ford B-Max overall, relative to comparable cars (2.98× vs 1.09×).
- Steering: diesel Ford B-Maxs failed 79% more often than the Ford B-Max overall, relative to comparable cars (1.60× vs 0.89×).
- Body, chassis and structure: diesel Ford B-Maxs failed 31% less often than the Ford B-Max overall, relative to comparable cars (0.38× vs 0.54×).
- Suspension: diesel Ford B-Maxs failed 23% more often than the Ford B-Max overall, relative to comparable cars (1.36× vs 1.10×).
| Area | Diesel (vs similar) | All Ford B-Maxs (vs similar) |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 16.7% (+88%) | 14.0% (+69%) |
| Suspension | 10.8% (+36%) | 7.7% (+10%) |
| Tyres | 8.3% (+25%) | 6.3% (+9%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.3% (+199%) | 2.3% (+9%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 4.8% (+27%) | 4.5% (+10%) |
| Brakes | 4.5% (-24%) | 3.4% (-33%) |
| Steering | 2.7% (+60%) | 1.3% (-11%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 1.0% (-62%) | 1.1% (-46%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.0% (+40%) | 0.8% (+57%) |
Most common diesel Ford B-Max failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 9.09% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 4.90% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken | Suspension | 3.86% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.91% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.55% |
Pass rate by age, by fuel
| Age at test (years) | diesel pass rate (tests) | petrol pass rate (tests) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | — | 81.1% (307) |
| 5-6 | 71.3% (1,448) | 77.9% (13,302) |
| 7-8 | 68.7% (4,970) | 76.1% (30,488) |
| 9-10 | 60.7% (8,621) | 69.3% (39,981) |
| 11-12 | 59.8% (2,067) | 66.2% (8,061) |
Ford B-Max by registration year
Registration-year pages cover every fuel of that year.
- 2012 Ford B-Max · 65.6%
- 2013 Ford B-Max · 66.0%
- 2014 Ford B-Max · 70.4%
- 2015 Ford B-Max · 74.4%
- 2016 Ford B-Max · 77.0%
- 2017 Ford B-Max · 76.2%
What this does and doesn't tell you
Fuel is DVSA's recorded fuel type; plug-in and self-charging hybrids are grouped as hybrid. A difference between fuels can come from the engines themselves, or from how the cars are used — diesels typically cover more miles, and the adjusted ratio allows for mileage band but not for every difference in use. For one car, its own MOT history is the better guide: see MOT check.
Check a specific diesel Ford B-Max
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.