2018 Ford C-Max MOT pass rate: 85.8% (14,307 tests)
Is the 2018 C-Max getting worse?
Pass rate of 2018-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 87.2% -0.9 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 86.5% +0.3 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 83.8% -1.0 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2018 C-Max
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1,035 | 29.6% |
| 2 | Brakes | 674 | 19.3% |
| 3 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 551 | 15.7% |
| 4 | Visibility | 503 | 14.4% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 439 | 12.5% |
| 6 | Suspension | 151 | 4.3% |
All C-Max years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 14,162 | 60.7% | -4.4 pts | 107,002 |
| 2008 | 30,711 | 61.5% | -3.6 pts | 102,923 |
| 2009 | 15,886 | 64.8% | -1.6 pts | 98,626 |
| 2010 | 17,671 | 65.1% | -2.2 pts | 94,395 |
| 2011 | 30,857 | 71.3% | +2.2 pts | 93,094 |
| 2012 | 32,362 | 73.0% | +1.8 pts | 85,969 |
| 2013 | 40,639 | 77.3% | +3.9 pts | 80,063 |
| 2014 | 37,461 | 77.8% | +1.9 pts | 71,408 |
| 2015 | 33,794 | 81.3% | +2.6 pts | 63,187 |
| 2016 | 31,341 | 84.7% | +3.4 pts | 53,218 |
| 2017 | 23,785 | 87.1% | +3.1 pts | 45,061 |
| 2018 (this page) | 14,307 | 85.8% | -0.5 pts | 34,422 |
| 2019 | 7,865 | 87.5% | -0.9 pts | 26,034 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Ford C-Max years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2018 Ford C-Max reliable?
2018-registered examples passed 85.8% of their MOT tests (14,307 tests, 2023–2025), -0.5 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 8 years old with a median 34,422 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2018 C-Max?
The median tested example shows 34,422 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.