Used car guide

2012 Ford B-MAX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 Ford B-MAXs, from 2,877 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,877MOT tests in 2025
62%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
5,700typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for brake lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 Ford B-MAXs than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Brake lights2.6× usual
    Ford B-MAX
    9.8% All 2012 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.6%, against 3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Ball joint2× usual
    Ford B-MAX
    11% All 2012 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.3%, against 3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Headlights2.1× usual
    Ford B-MAX
    10% All 2012 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 2.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Seat belts4.3× usual
    Ford B-MAX
    5.6% All 2012 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.4% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

  • Steering swivel joints6.3× usual
    Ford B-MAX
    5% All 2012 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.5%, against 0.1% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 2.1% here, against 10.1% of all 2012 cars. Number plate lights: 1.6% here, against 7.3% of all 2012 cars.

By area

The share of 2012 Ford B-MAX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    30% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    22% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    6% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Ford B-MAX?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2018688Tyres 29%
20175,779Tyres 29%
20167,151Tyres 31%
20159,815Tyres 33%
201412,875Tyres 35%
201314,520Suspension 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 Ford B-MAXs registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score