2018 FORD S-MAX2.0L Diesel

The 2018 Ford S-Max presents a stable roadworthiness trend. The most recent test on 24 October 2025 at 74,996 miles passed with no defects recorded, and the three prior annual tests from 2022 to 2024 also passed clean. The only anomaly is a failed test on 5 October 2023 at 48,021 miles that carries no recorded defects, immediately followed by a pass on the same day at the same mileage, which points to an administrative or procedural rejection rather than a mechanical fault. Annual mileage averages 9,374 across the recorded history, a typical figure for an eight-year-old vehicle. The records show steady accumulation: 37,825 miles in October 2022, 48,021 in October 2023, 61,393 in October 2024, and 74,996 in October 2025. No gaps or sudden jumps appear. The DVSA data is sparse on advisories, with every entry listing no defects, so the file gives little indication of consumable wear or underlying corrosion tracked over time. A buyer should still commission a physical inspection despite the clean sheet. The absence of advisories across five years does not confirm sound suspension bushes, coil springs, or brake disc condition; testers vary in strictness. Given the S-Max's size and front-wheel-drive layout, check the front lower arms and rear trailing arm bushes for fatigue, and inspect brake calipers for binding after standing. Structural integrity underneath should be examined for corrosion around sills and subframes, as Ford estates of this era can show rust where road salt sits. The odd 2023 fail-with-no-defect warrants a DVSA certificate check to confirm no omitted fault. Otherwise, the maintenance pattern implies a careful owner who kept the car serviced to pass each year untouched.