Used car guide

2020 Ford S-MAX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2020 Ford S-MAXs, from 1,144 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,144MOT tests in 2025
80%pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%)
8,600typical miles a year
2×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2020 Ford S-MAXs than on all cars registered in 2020.

  • Brake pads2× usual
    Ford S-MAX
    18.6% All 2020 cars
    9.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 1.6% of all 2020 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Headlights8.3× usual
    Ford S-MAX
    5% All 2020 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 0.5% of all 2020 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.

By area

The share of 2020 Ford S-MAX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% 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
    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.

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

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    7% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    1% 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.

Looking at a Ford S-MAX?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2022751Tyres 26%
2021710Tyres 31%
20192,298Tyres 34%
20182,392Tyres 35%
20175,246Tyres 35%
20166,850Tyres 37%
20153,273Tyres 41%
20146,290Tyres 40%
20136,010Suspension 45%
20126,641Suspension 49%
20115,991Suspension 50%
20107,831Suspension 54%
20094,882Suspension 58%
20083,545Suspension 63%
20073,293Suspension 64%
2006937Suspension 64%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2020 Ford S-MAXs registered in 2020. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score