2012 Ford Grand C-MAX 2.0L Diesel · AF12 LUB

The most recent DVSA examination on 16 March 2026 resulted in a Pass, with a single advisory noting general exhaust system corrosion. Reviewing the full MOT history, there is no evidence of any failure items or major defects recurring across consecutive tests, and the advisory list across the years is broadly consistent with a vehicle of this age and mileage. The exhaust corrosion advisory has been repeated at multiple tests (2022, 2023, and 2026), which suggests a progressive condition rather than a one-off observation and should be monitored, but otherwise the maintenance trend is stable with only minor wear-related items being flagged. There is nothing in the recent test history to indicate deteriorating mechanical condition or unresolved safety concerns. With a recorded mileage of 82,061 miles spread over approximately fourteen years, this Grand C-Max has covered around 5,800 miles per year on average, which is significantly below the national average for a family vehicle of this age. Such low annual mileage suggests either primarily short urban use or extended standing between journeys, both of which carry their own mechanical implications. Lower mileage typically reduces wear on major drivetrain components such as the engine, clutch and gearbox internals, but it accelerates degradation of age-sensitive items including rubber seals, brake system components due to corrosion from infrequent use, 12V battery health through prolonged standing, and fluid degradation from lack of regular circulation. The repeated advisories relating to tyre wear on both the nearside and offside rear edges and inner edges (2020, 2022 and 2024) indicate an alignment or suspension geometry issue that has not been definitively resolved. On a test drive, the buyer should listen for any knocking or clonking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, which could suggest worn suspension bushes, droplinks or top mounts, and pay attention to steering precision and any pulling to one side under braking. It is advisable to check all four tyres for uneven wear patterns, verify the tracking is within manufacturer specification, and inspect the rear brake discs carefully as binding or partially seized calipers are common on low-mileage vehicles that have stood for long intervals, leading to uneven pad deposition and edge wear on tyres. The 2021 advisories on pitted front and rear brake discs and thinning pads indicate those components were nearing the end of their service life at that point, so a physical inspection of current brake disc condition, pad thickness and flexible hose integrity is essential, with particular attention to any signs of binding when the vehicle is first moved off. The recorded exhaust corrosion advisories and the slight fraying to the nearside rear seat belt webbing noted in 2025 also warrant physical checks. The exhaust should be inspected from the catalytic converter rearward for any perforations, weak mounting rubbers or sections likely to fail the next MOT, while the seatbelt should be examined along its full length for any cuts, fraying or fading of the webbing. Given the calendar age of the vehicle, the buyer should also verify the condition of the timing belt or chain service interval according to Ford's schedule, confirm the age and state of the 12V battery, and ensure all fluids including engine coolant, brake fluid and automatic or manual transmission fluid have been changed in line with time-based rather than mileage-based intervals, as fluids degrade chemically with age regardless of use. Finally, inspecting the bodywork and undercarriage for standing corrosion, particularly around wheel arches, sills and suspension mounting points, will help establish whether the low recorded mileage has preserved the structural integrity of the vehicle or whether prolonged light use has allowed corrosion to take hold in less obvious areas.