2016 Ford S-MAX 2.0L Diesel · ML66 WGD

Chronic corrosion and wear around the braking system form the defining mechanical story of this S-MAX across the recorded MOT history. From the earliest entry in March 2020, when rear brake disc pitting and scoring were first flagged as an advisory, the same general finding has resurfaced in every subsequent annual test, moving from the rear axle to the front discs and back again, accompanied by progressively thinning front brake pads noted in April 2024 and fluctuating service brake performance on both axles in 2021 and 2022. A more telling concern sits in the 2023 test, where a brake hose ferrule was recorded as showing slight corrosion across all positions, the kind of defect that warrants close physical inspection of the flexible brake lines and their crimped unions for live rust, swelling, or weeping under load. The vehicle passed its most recent examination on 15 January 2026 with no defects recorded, and the 2025 test was similarly clean, which suggests the braking components addressed since the 2024 advisory have been renewed; however, the multi-year pattern of disc wear and the earlier hose corrosion advisory indicate that brake lines, caliper slide pins, and caliper binding remain areas where deterioration tends to reappear on this model. Mileage accumulation for this ten-year-old S-MAX stands at 88,831 recorded miles, equating to roughly 8,883 miles per year since first registration, which sits close to the typical average for its age and indicates steady rather than exceptional use. The testing pattern shows annual examinations from 2020 through 2026 with no significant gaps, and the mileage progression between recorded tests appears broadly consistent rather than featuring sharp jumps that might suggest long motorway commutes or extended periods of inactivity. This regular, evenly-spaced usage profile is mechanically favourable in the sense that consumables such as brake fluid, tyres, and suspension bushes have been worked consistently rather than allowed to degrade through standing; conversely, the brake disc wear advisories accumulating at every test suggest the braking system is operating under reasonably normal thermal cycling, which is the typical mechanism by which discs develop the lipping and pitting recorded on this vehicle. For a prospective buyer, the priorities at the point of inspection should be the items that have been repeatedly flagged rather than generic checks. The brake discs and pads are the obvious starting point: although the 2024 front pad advisory implies replacement, the front discs should be measured for remaining thickness, and a finger run around the inner and outer edges should detect any remaining lip or fresh scoring, particularly given the recurring nature of the finding. The brake hoses and their ferrules, flagged for corrosion in 2023, should be visually inspected for active rust, cracking, or swelling of the rubber, and the flexible sections should be checked for any sponginess or excessive travel under pedal pressure during a test drive, as corroded ferrules can compromise sealing. The exhaust, noted as damaged in 2023, warrants a check for live corrosion, hanging joints, or blowing gases, while the undertrays recorded as fitted in multiple tests mean that any future inspection of the subframe, rear suspension arms, and anti-roll bar drop links will require the undertray to be removed to verify condition. On the road, the buyer should listen for any clonks or knocks from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, pay attention to steering pull or vibration under braking which would suggest a binding caliper or warped disc, and feel for any judder through the pedal that would indicate disc run-out. The 2023 wiper failure, while rectified, also warrants confirming that both wiper blades clear the screen effectively and that the wiper linkage has not developed play, as worn linkages on this generation of S-MAX are a known wear item. Finally, the windscreen chip recorded as a minor in 2022 should be re-examined to ensure it has not propagated into the driver's line of sight, which would render the vehicle unroadworthy, and the nearside rear tyre edge wear noted in 2021 should be cross-checked against current tracking geometry, as uneven rear tyre wear on this model can indicate worn rear trailing arm bushes or weakened coil springs. Taken as a whole, the record demonstrates a vehicle that has remained broadly roadworthy at each annual test, with the 2025 and 2026 examinations passing without any advisories at all; however, the recurring brake-related advisories between 2020 and 2024 indicate that prospective buyers should anticipate renewed attention to the braking system and should budget accordingly for discs, pads, and potentially flexible hoses within the medium term, rather than assuming the most recent clean test equates to a permanent resolution of those flagged components.