2016 Ford C-MAX 1.5L Diesel · 10 JG

The 2016 Ford C-MAX presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a fully clean MOT pass on 21 January 2026 at 34,824 miles with zero defects recorded. This is a significant turnaround from the 27 January 2025 failure at 31,060 miles, where the tester flagged multiple worn brake pads, worn front and rear brake discs, and several tyres worn to the legal limit or damaged. The subsequent pass just three days later on 24 January 2025 at 31,052 miles indicates those items were promptly rectified. The 2024 test at 28,629 miles also passed, though advisories for thin front brake pads and inner edge tyre wear suggest consumable replacement was already becoming due. Overall, the record shows a vehicle that had a period of deferred upkeep around late 2024 to early 2025, but the most recent test confirms all critical safety items are now within specification. The mileage profile is notably low for a vehicle approaching eleven years of age. Between the 2023 test at 24,258 miles and the 2026 test at 34,824 miles, the car covered roughly 10,500 miles across three years, averaging approximately 3,500 miles annually. This low annual accumulation raises the possibility of prolonged periods standing idle, which can cause flat-spotting on tyres, brake surface corrosion, and deterioration of rubber bushes and seals. The gap between the May 2024 test at 28,629 miles and the January 2025 test at 31,052 miles shows a modest 2,400 miles in eight months, consistent with short-trip local use rather than sustained motorway driving. A buyer should inspect the front and rear brake discs and pads in person, given the recurring advisories for thin pads and worn discs across the 2024 and 2025 tests. Even though the January 2026 pass was clean, low-mileage vehicles can develop lipping on disc edges or uneven pad deposits if driven infrequently. The tyre history warrants close attention as well. Inner edge wear appeared repeatedly across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which typically points to worn suspension bushes, deteriorated track rod ends, or incorrect front wheel alignment. A thorough check of the front lower suspension arms, anti-roll bar links, and steering rack gaiters is advisable. The 2025 failure also noted a damaged offside front engine mounting with fluid leakage, so the engine and transmission mounts should be examined for perishing or hydraulic fluid loss, and any under-bonnet fluid residue should be traced to its source.