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What to check: Ford B-MAX

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Ranked across all years of the Ford B-MAX, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 9.5% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.8%

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 5.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.4%

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.2%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 1.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

ExhaustRuns high on this modelListen along the exhaust at cold idle for blowing or chuffing, and give the tailpipe a push to check nothing hangs loose. Small blows only get louder.Recorded on 1.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 23.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 8.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersRuns high on this modelScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 3.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.7%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Pull away gently from a stop and coast to a halt on an automatic car.Any judder, hesitation or delayed gear change points to PowerShift clutch pack wear.

Ask for proof of automatic gearbox fluid changes, roughly every third service.No history of fluid changes means the clutch packs have likely been run harder than they should.

Check all electrics: windows, mirrors, dash warning lights, and ask when the battery was last replaced.Random electrical faults and a battery that won't hold charge are the most common owner complaint on this model.

On a 1.0 EcoBoost car, check the service book for the coolant pipe recall and any timing belt work.No record of the recall fix or belt history is a red flag on this engine.

On a cold morning, run the heated windscreen and check it clears evenly across the glass.Patchy or no heating suggests the Quickclear elements have failed, meaning a full screen replacement.

On a diesel, ask about the mix of short trips versus motorway runs and check for a DPF warning history.Mostly short-journey use raises the chance of a blocked filter and an expensive clean or replacement.

Pull the full MOT history, not just the pass or fail.Repeated electrical advisories year after year back up the pattern seen in the wider MOT data for this model.

Full Ford B-MAX reliability report