2008 Ford C-MAX 1.8L Diesel · AV08 MDE

The vehicle presents a concerning roadworthiness profile characterized by a history of reactive maintenance rather than preventative care. While it passed its most recent test in January 2025 at 149,379 miles, this followed a significant failure just three days and two miles prior. The maintenance trend appears unstable, as the vehicle consistently fails on multiple critical safety items such as structural integrity and suspension components which are only addressed immediately before an MOT inspection. At 149,379 miles over 18 years, the C-Max has averaged approximately 8,300 miles per year, which is consistent with typical usage for its age. However, there is a notable gap in testing history between December 2022 and January 2025, during which the vehicle covered nearly 9,000 miles. The lack of frequent testing, combined with the cluster of multiple failures recorded in early 2025, suggests the vehicle was likely driven for long periods without addressing accumulating faults until it reached a point of legal failure. A buyer must prioritize the structural integrity of the vehicle during a physical inspection. The January 2025 failure identified the nearside rear outer integral sill corroded to the point where the rigidity of the assembly was significantly reduced. While the car passed after this report, rust in structural sills often spreads or is poorly patched. The inspector should also check for further corrosion across the chassis, as the rear coil springs were flagged as corroded recently and a front spring had fractured in 2021. The mechanical history also shows a pattern of neglecting consumable components. Both front and rear brake discs were noted as pitted and scored in 2025, and multiple tyres have historically failed for being near the legal limit or wearing uneven. Given the recurring issues with coil springs and thinning brake pads, the buyer should verify the current state of the braking system and the condition of the suspension bushings to ensure the previous repairs were not merely temporary fixes.