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Ford C-Max steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 49,589 MOT tests · Updated

At 10 years, 0.5 in 100 MOT tests of the Ford C-Max failed on steering, against 2.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 49,589 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 236 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 19 ages from 3 to 21 years, 527,219 MOT tests
  • MOT tests at 10 years: 49,589 for the Ford C-Max

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.5 fails per 100 MOT tests at 10 years, against 2.1 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 10 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Ford C-Max steering fails by age

Ford C-Max steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Ford C-Max. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.02463 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 3,049 MOT tests34 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 7,707 MOT tests5 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 15,771 MOT tests56 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 26,348 MOT tests7 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 35,148 MOT tests78 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 43,027 MOT tests9 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 49,213 MOT tests910 years: 0.5 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 49,589 MOT tests11 years: 0.7 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 48,885 MOT tests1112 years: 1.6 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 42,418 MOT tests13 years: 3.0 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 34,901 MOT tests1314 years: 4.9 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 37,270 MOT tests15 years: 5.6 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 35,320 MOT tests1516 years: 5.0 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 32,880 MOT tests17 years: 4.6 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 28,661 MOT tests1718 years: 3.6 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 20,039 MOT tests19 years: 3.2 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 10,500 MOT tests1920 years: 3.4 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 4,806 MOT tests21 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 1,687 MOT tests21
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Ford C-Max All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
33,0490.00.1
47,7070.10.2
515,7710.10.3
626,3480.10.5
735,1480.20.8
843,0270.21.2
949,2130.31.8
1049,5890.52.1
1148,8850.72.5
1242,4181.62.8
1334,9013.02.9
1437,2704.93.2
1535,3205.63.3
1632,8805.03.4
1728,6614.63.6
1820,0393.63.9
19*10,5003.24.1
20*4,8063.44.2
21*1,6873.34.2

All first-use years of the Ford C-Max pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 10 years

Advisories (not fails)

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
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By engine and fuel

  • 1.6 petrol: 0.3 per 100 at 10 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 12,262 MOT tests)
  • 1.6 diesel: 0.6 per 100 at 10 years, fails less often than diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (0.2–0.3×) (all test years; 21,258 MOT tests)
  • 1.0 petrol: 0.2 per 100 at 10 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 6,033 MOT tests)
  • 2.0 diesel: 0.5 per 100 at 10 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 7,852 MOT tests)
  • 1.5 diesel: 0.7 per 100 at 10 years, about average for diesel class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 2,144 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Play in steering rack inner joint(s).

Check one Ford C-Max, not the average

The figures here describe Ford C-Max cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Ford C-Max problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Ford C-Max have more steering problems than other cars?

0.5 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years, against 2.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 49,589 MOT tests).

How common are Ford C-Max steering problems?

0.5 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years failed on steering, against 2.1 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 49,589 MOT tests).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 527,219 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare