2014 Ford B-MAX 1.6L Petrol · AP14 TCV

The defining mechanical story of this 2014 Ford B-Max centres on chronic tyre wear and a cluster of bulb and seatbelt defects that prevented a clean pass on the most recent visit. The 6 January 2026 test produced a pass with no advisories, but a separate failure recorded on the same day listed five present reasons for refusal, including an incorrect indicator bulb colour, stop and position lamps affected by incorrect bulb fitment, and a nearside rear seat belt buckle that would not locate due to dirt ingress. These are predominantly electrical and trim-level issues rather than deep structural concerns, but they indicate that lamps and seatbelt mechanisms had not been checked or rectified between the failure and the subsequent pass on the same date. Looking back further, the 2023 and 2024 tests both recorded front tyre wear advisories, with the January 2024 test failing outright on a nearside front tyre below the 1.6mm legal tread and a dangerous bulge from structural separation, alongside a wiper that failed to clear the screen effectively. The pattern across five recorded tests is one of recurring tyre condition issues, two outright failures, and intermittent minor defects, suggesting a vehicle that has been kept just within legal boundaries rather than presented in consistently tidy condition. Mileage stands at 74,378 recorded miles across roughly twelve years of use, giving an annual accumulation of approximately 6,200 miles, which is in line with typical private use for a small MPV of this era. There are no significant gaps between annual test entries or unusual step changes in mileage that would suggest prolonged standing or a sudden change in usage. At this level of annual mileage, mechanical wear is concentrated on consumables such as tyres, brake pads, wiper blades, and bulbs rather than on major drivetrain items, which is consistent with what the MOT history actually flags. The repeated front tyre advisories, however, do suggest an underlying alignment or suspension geometry issue, because a well-aligned vehicle should not be presenting edge wear to multiple tyres across consecutive tests on the same axle corner. The 2024 advisory regarding front brake pads wearing thin also aligns with the cumulative effect of this mileage band, though no brake or suspension component has yet been flagged as a structural failure. For a prospective buyer, the most important physical check on a test drive is the front suspension and steering geometry, given the persistent offside and nearside front tyre edge wear across three consecutive years of testing. Listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end over speed humps and uneven surfaces, particularly from the wishbones, drop links, and anti-roll bar bushes, as worn components here directly cause the kind of uneven shoulder wear that has repeatedly appeared on this car. Feel for any pulling to one side under braking or steady cruising, and inspect the inner and outer shoulders of the front tyres for feathered or stepped tread blocks, which would confirm a geometry or bush issue that has not been resolved. The front brake pads should also be physically inspected for remaining material thickness, as the 2024 advisory noted them wearing thin, and any brake judder or vibration through the pedal would warrant checking the discs for lipping or distortion. The lighting and seatbelt issues from the most recent failure are relatively straightforward but should be verified by the buyer. Check that all indicator, stop, tail, and position lamps illuminate in the correct colour and intensity, and confirm that the nearside rear seat belt buckle latches and releases cleanly without sticking, as the failure specifically noted dirt preventing correct location. Inspect the windscreen wiper blades for smearing or streaking, given the 2023 failure for ineffective clearing, and ensure both front and rear wiper arms sit flush against the glass rather than lifting at the end of their sweep. Finally, examine the rear tyres for cracking or perishing on the sidewalls, as this was flagged on both nearside and offside rears in 2023 and would warrant replacement regardless of remaining tread depth on a twelve year old vehicle.