2012 Ford S-MAX 2.0L Diesel · LJ62 BCE

The 2012 Ford S-Max presents as roadworthy with a stable maintenance trend. The most recent test on 29 October 2025 at 100,005 miles returned a pass with no defects recorded, and the four preceding annual tests from November 2022 to November 2024 also passed clean. The lone failure on 14 November 2022 at 80,403 miles is anomalous, as the tester logged no defects yet the vehicle still failed; this suggests an administrative or procedural rejection rather than a mechanical fault, and the same-day pass confirms the car was roadworthy. Mileage accumulation tracks typical use for a 14-year-old vehicle. The record shows 80,403 miles in November 2022, rising to 87,453 by November 2023, 93,748 by November 2024, and 100,005 by October 2025. That equates to roughly 6,300 to 7,300 miles per year, close to the expected average of 7,143. No rapid accumulation or unexplained gaps appear across the four-year span, and the clean advisories across all tests indicate previous owners kept consumables and core systems within tolerance. A buyer should still commission an independent inspection of suspension bushes, coil springs, and brake discs given the age and 100,000-mile count, as these components wear without always triggering MOT advisories in a single test cycle. The absence of corrosion or structural integrity flags in the DVSA data is favourable, but standing moisture exposure over 14 years can hide underbody rust not caught on a lift-free test. Verify the 2022 dual-entry anomaly with DVLA paperwork to confirm no suppressed defect history. Otherwise the S-Max shows disciplined upkeep, and a pre-purchase check should focus on tyre sidewall condition, wiper operation, and exhaust emissions rather than major mechanical risk.