2008 Ford S-Max MOT pass rate: 62.6% (13,325 tests)
Is the 2008 S-Max getting worse?
Pass rate of 2008-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 63.7% -1.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 62.4% -2.4 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 61.0% -4.1 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 2008 S-Max
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 4,384 | 26.4% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3,959 | 23.9% |
| 3 | Brakes | 2,324 | 14.0% |
| 4 | Tyres | 1,853 | 11.2% |
| 5 | Body, chassis, structure | 1,012 | 6.1% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 996 | 6.0% |
All S-Max years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 4,378 | 57.4% | -7.0 pts | 136,318 |
| 2007 | 13,501 | 59.9% | -5.2 pts | 139,194 |
| 2008 (this page) | 13,325 | 62.6% | -2.6 pts | 137,868 |
| 2009 | 17,253 | 63.4% | -3.0 pts | 130,552 |
| 2010 | 25,849 | 66.2% | -1.2 pts | 121,865 |
| 2011 | 18,961 | 68.2% | -1.0 pts | 116,041 |
| 2012 | 20,648 | 67.2% | -4.0 pts | 106,774 |
| 2013 | 18,462 | 67.7% | -5.6 pts | 96,990 |
| 2014 | 19,320 | 69.8% | -6.1 pts | 88,437 |
| 2015 | 9,767 | 76.7% | -2.0 pts | 76,666 |
| 2016 | 20,367 | 82.0% | +0.6 pts | 68,399 |
| 2017 | 15,666 | 83.2% | -0.8 pts | 61,882 |
| 2018 | 7,103 | 84.4% | -2.0 pts | 49,013 |
| 2019 | 6,864 | 81.8% | -6.6 pts | 42,383 |
| 2020 | 3,447 | 85.4% | -4.5 pts | 32,792 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Ford S-Max years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2008 Ford S-Max reliable?
2008-registered examples passed 62.6% of their MOT tests (13,325 tests, 2023–2025), -2.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 18 years old with a median 137,868 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2008 S-Max?
The median tested example shows 137,868 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.