Used car guide

2018 Ford B-MAX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Ford B-MAXs, from 688 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

688MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
5,400typical miles a year
8.2×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Ford B-MAXs than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Coil springs8.2× usual
    Ford B-MAX
    14% All 2018 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 13.1%, against 1.3% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Brake lights11.4× usual
    Ford B-MAX
    10.3% All 2018 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.3%, against 0.7% of all 2018 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.

By area

The share of 2018 Ford B-MAX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    29% 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
    20% 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
    16% 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
    14% 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
    6% 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
    4% 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
20175,779Tyres 29%
20167,151Tyres 31%
20159,815Tyres 33%
201412,875Tyres 35%
201314,520Suspension 36%
20122,877Suspension 36%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Ford B-MAXs registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score