2013 Ford C-MAX 2.0L Diesel · CU63 ORH

A developing front-end steering and tyre wear issue dominates the recent roadworthiness record of this 2013 Ford C-MAX. Following five consecutive passes between 2019 and 2024 with no defects recorded, the most recent test on 2025-10-10 produced three advisories, two of which flag the front tyres as worn close to the legal limit on both the nearside and offside edges, alongside a newly recorded play in the nearside front steering rack inner joint. The progression from a clean record to multiple advisories concentrated at the front axle points to wear components that are now reaching the end of their service life rather than isolated faults. The 2021-10-13 failure for an inoperative horn, ineffective front wiper, and insufficient parking brake efficiency was clearly rectified the following day, as the re-test on 2021-10-14 passed without any recorded defects, and none of those items have reappeared in subsequent tests. Mileage accumulation across the recorded tests averages roughly 7,756 miles per year over the vehicle's thirteen-year life, which sits broadly in line with typical usage for a car of this age. The recorded annual mileage is sufficient to keep mechanical consumables such as brake friction material, tyres, drive belts, and coolant exercised regularly, reducing concerns over seized components or fluid degradation through prolonged standing. There are no extended gaps between annual tests that would suggest the vehicle was laid up for multiple years, and the consistent year-on-year testing pattern indicates the car has remained in active use throughout the period covered by the history. At 100,829 miles, the drivetrain will be approaching a mileage band where clutch wear, dual-mass flywheel fatigue, and minor oil seepage from engine seals become more common on vehicles of this type, though no such defects have yet been recorded. Given the flagged steering rack inner joint play on the nearside front, any test drive should include careful attention to steering response. Listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and feel for vagueness, slack, or a wandering sensation in the steering wheel, particularly during low-speed cornering or when turning on full lock. Steering shimmy or vibration through the wheel at speed can also indicate that the inner joint wear is now affecting wheel geometry. The combination of inner joint play and edge tyre wear on both front tyres suggests a wheel alignment check is overdue, and any uneven shoulder wear visible on replacement tyres would reinforce this concern. The front tyre advisories should prompt a close inspection of the remaining tread depth across the full axle and a check for uneven wear patterns, feathering, or cupping that could point to worn suspension bushes, top mounts, or droplinks. With parking brake efficiency having previously failed in 2021, it is prudent to verify on a test drive that the vehicle holds firmly on an incline without excessive lever travel and that the rear caliper mechanisms are not binding, which is a known issue on C-MAX rear drum brakes. Finally, although the 2019 nearside rear tyre advisory has not recurred, all four wheels and the sidewall condition should be examined for any sidewall cracking or bulges consistent with age-related rubber deterioration.