2009 Ford S-MAX 2.2L Diesel · EN09 DXM

A consistent run of clean MOT passes from 2022 through July 2025 gives this 2009 Ford S-Max a reassuring track record of roadworthiness heading into its eighteenth year. Four consecutive tests have returned no advisories and no failures, with the most recent examination on 17 July 2025 recorded as a straight pass. For a vehicle of this age and class, that unbroken sequence suggests that the core safety-critical items examined under the MOT regime steering and suspension components, braking system condition, lighting, exhaust integrity, and structural corrosion have not deteriorated to the threshold of an advisory. While a clean test pass is not a guarantee of future condition, the absence of recorded wear items over four years is a strong indicator that the car has not been presenting borderline defects that an examiner felt worth flagging. With 138,923 miles recorded over roughly seventeen years of use, this S-Max has covered approximately 8,172 miles annually, which sits comfortably within the typical range for a family MPV of its vintage. There are no extended gaps between tests suggesting prolonged off-road storage, and the regular annual testing pattern combined with an MOT pass at every attempt indicates the vehicle has remained in active service throughout its life. This kind of consistent usage is generally favourable mechanically, as it keeps seals, bushes, and driveline lubricants working rather than allowing them to dry out or degrade through standing. At this mileage, however, consumable wear on suspension bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, brake discs and pads, and clutch or dual-mass flywheel components should still be expected to be approaching the point where replacement is due, even though none of those items have yet crossed the advisory threshold under test. For a prospective buyer, the absence of recorded advisories means there are no specific components to home in on from the MOT file itself, but the age and mileage profile of this S-Max warrant careful attention to the areas that typically wear on these vehicles. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, which would suggest worn lower wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, or top mount bearings, all known wear points on the Ford CD3 platform shared with the Mondeo and Galaxy. Check for uneven tyre wear, particularly inner shoulder wear, which can indicate worn rear trailing arm bushes or front wishbone bush deterioration. Steering should feel precise without vibration through the wheel at speed, and any pulling to one side under braking or a soft, spongy pedal would point to binding calipers or brake hydraulic issues worth investigating. Under the bonnet, inspect for oil residue around the engine block, particularly from the timing chain cover and the rocker cover gasket, both common seepage points on the 2.0 TDCi and 2.5 Duratec engines fitted to this generation of S-Max. The dual-mass flywheel, if the vehicle is manual, can present as a rattle on cold start that smooths out as the engine warms; if intrusive, replacement is a costly job. Brake discs should be examined for a pronounced lip on the outer edge and any signs of hot judder under hard stopping. Finally, examine the rear wheelarch arches, sills, and underbody for any surface corrosion bubbling through the paintwork, as MPVs of this era are prone to rust developing in these areas even when the MOT test has not yet flagged it as an advisory. A trolley jack and torch check of the subframe and suspension mounting points is well worthwhile before committing to purchase.