2017 Ford C-MAX 1.0L Petrol · ML67 KXW

A Ford C-Max from 2017 carrying 52,336 miles presents a mixed mechanical picture when the official test record is examined. Across six recorded tests since 2020, the vehicle has passed five times, including the most recent assessment on 19 November 2025, which recorded no defects. The single failure occurred on 31 October 2022 and was categorised as Dangerous, centred entirely on tyre condition rather than structural, braking, or suspension integrity. Aside from that event, the recorded advisory history is thin, limited to a cracked nearside rear tyre on the same date and a nail in a nearside front tyre noted in 2020. The overall test trend is therefore stable rather than progressively worsening, but the Dangerous failure is a material data point that warrants careful attention to tyre maintenance rather than being dismissed as an isolated event. The mileage accumulation of roughly 5,815 miles per year is notably low for a vehicle approaching its ninth birthday, which suggests either limited daily use or extended periods where the car may have remained stationary. There are no significant voids in the testing record, with annual tests appearing consistently from 2020 through 2025, indicating the vehicle has remained in active use and on the road throughout. Low annual mileage reduces wear rates on major drivetrain and suspension components but can accelerate deterioration of certain consumables, particularly tyres that may age and crack through environmental exposure rather than tread wear, and brake discs that can develop surface corrosion and lipping from infrequent use. The advisory and failure history on this vehicle supports that interpretation, as every flagged item relates to tyre condition rather than mechanical wear items such as brakes, exhaust, or steering components. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection area is the tyre set currently fitted to the vehicle. The 2022 failure recorded a nearside rear tyre with a structural lump caused by separation, alongside a nearside front tyre with tread depth below the legal 1.6mm limit, and an offside front tyre showing perishing cracks. This pattern suggests that multiple tyres were simultaneously in poor condition, which is more indicative of a neglected replacement cycle than a single accidental puncture. On inspection, all four tyres and the spare should be examined for age-related perishing in the sidewalls, uneven shoulder wear, and any bulges or deformations. During a test drive, listen for tyre noise that changes with speed, which can indicate a separating carcass, and feel for vibration through the steering wheel that may suggest a deformed tyre structure. Beyond the tyre concerns, the absence of any recorded advisories relating to brake components, suspension linkages, coil springs, corrosion, or exhaust condition since 2020 is a factual point worth noting, though it does not by itself confirm that these systems are currently in good order. A thorough test drive should include firm braking from around 30 mph to check for pedal judder or pulling, which would indicate warped brake discs particularly relevant to a low-mileage vehicle. Bumpy roads should be traversed at low speed to detect knocking from worn suspension bushes or anti-roll bar links, and the steering should be checked for excessive play or clonking when turned near full lock. Finally, given the low annual mileage, the 12V battery may not have been regularly exercised and a voltage or load test is prudent before purchase, as a failing battery is a common and preventable issue with lightly driven cars.