Used car guide

2015 Ford C-MAX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Ford C-MAXs, from 11,319 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

11,319MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)
7,000typical miles a year
4×the usual rate for tyre pressure monitoring system

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Ford C-MAXs than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Tyre pressure monitoring system4× usual
    Ford C-MAX
    6.4% All 2015 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.4%, against 1.6% of all 2015 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.

  • Diesel smoke emissions5.7× usual
    Ford C-MAX
    2.3% All 2015 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.3% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Sidelights1.7× usual
    Ford C-MAX
    3.2% All 2015 cars
    1.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.6% of all 2015 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.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.6% here, against 5.2% of all 2015 cars. Coil springs: 2% here, against 5.4% of all 2015 cars.

By area

The share of 2015 Ford C-MAX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    36% 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.

  • Brakes
    24% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    15% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    15% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% 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 C-MAX?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20192,610Tyres 33%
20184,811Tyres 33%
20178,016Tyres 34%
201610,597Tyres 35%
201412,417Tyres 37%
201313,323Tyres 37%
201210,567Tyres 38%
20119,926Tyres 39%
20105,352Suspension 50%
20094,618Suspension 54%
20088,408Suspension 55%
20073,815Suspension 57%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2015 Ford C-MAXs registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score