Used car guide

2014 Ford B-MAX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Ford B-MAXs, from 12,875 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

12,875MOT tests in 2025

67%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)

5,500typical miles a year

3.8×the usual rate for brake lights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Ford B-MAXs than on all cars registered in 2014.

Brake lights3.8× usual

Ford B-MAX
11% All 2014 cars
2.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 10.1%, against 2.2% of all 2014 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.
Seat belts5.1× usual

Ford B-MAX
5.1% All 2014 cars
1%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.8%, against 0.3% of all 2014 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.
Ball joint2× usual

Ford B-MAX
8.3% All 2014 cars
4.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2.3% of all 2014 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.
Steering swivel joints5.7× usual

Ford B-MAX
4% All 2014 cars
0.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.1% of all 2014 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.
Tyre pressure monitoring system2.6× usual

Ford B-MAX
2.3% All 2014 cars
0.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.9% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 1.7% here, against 8.2% of all 2014 cars. Number plate lights: 1.2% here, against 5.2% of all 2014 cars.

By area

The share of 2014 Ford B-MAX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Tyres

35% 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.
Suspension

27% 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.
Lights and electrics

23% 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

21% 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

9% 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

5% 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

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2018	688	Tyres 29%
2017	5,779	Tyres 29%
2016	7,151	Tyres 31%
2015	9,815	Tyres 33%
2013	14,520	Suspension 36%
2012	2,877	Suspension 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2014 Ford B-MAXs registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score