2011 Ford C-MAX 1.6L Petrol · PE60 PFX

A clear and concerning rear brake wear pattern sits at the heart of this Ford C-Max's MOT record, with both rear brake pads flagged as dangerously below the 1.5 mm legal minimum at the most recent test on 23 December 2025. The earlier advisory issued at the January 2025 test already warned that rear brake pads were getting low, meaning the wear progressed past advisory stage into outright failure within the same calendar year. While the vehicle subsequently passed a retest on the same date once the pads were replaced, the rapid transition from advisory to dangerous failure on the rear axle indicates that pad wear on this car should not be assumed to follow a slow, linear pattern. Front brake components have not been flagged in any of the recorded tests, but the rear axle clearly warrants close scrutiny during any pre-purchase inspection. The recorded mileage of 32,148 miles against a 2011 registration equates to roughly 2,143 miles per year over the vehicle's fifteen-year life, which is notably below average for a family crossover of this era and points to either very light running or extended periods of inactivity. The MOT testing itself is reasonably consistent from 2023 onwards, with annual tests recorded in January 2023, January 2024, January 2025, and December 2025, though the absence of any recorded tests between 2025 and the current date may reflect either the vehicle being off the road or simply not yet due for retest. Low annual mileage of this kind reduces wear on high-mileage components such as the clutch, engine internals, and gearbox, but it does introduce risk around rubber and polymer components. The two tyre advisories recorded at the most recent test, covering cracking on the nearside front edges and wear plus sidewall cracking on the offside front, are consistent with age-related rubber deterioration rather than high-mileage tread loss, and reinforce the picture of a vehicle that has stood still more than it has been driven. Given that both rear brake pads reached the dangerous threshold within twelve months of being merely an advisory, any prospective buyer should treat the rear braking system as the primary area of inspection. On a test drive, listen for any scraping or grinding noise from the rear hubs during low-speed manoeuvres, feel for any pulling to one side under firm braking which could indicate a sticking or binding rear caliper following pad replacement, and check that the handbrake holds firmly on an incline as rear drum or caliper mechanisms may have seized during periods of light use. The rear discs themselves were not flagged, but worn pads of that severity often correspond with scored or worn disc surfaces, so a visual check of disc condition and thickness is worthwhile. Also confirm that the replacement pads and any caliper sliding pins have been properly inspected, as a rushed pad-only replacement can leave seized pins causing uneven future wear. The tyre condition recorded at the December 2025 test deserves immediate attention even though it sat only as an advisory. Cracking on sidewalls and tread edges on a fifteen-year-old vehicle with such low mileage is a classic signature of UV degradation and age-hardening of the rubber compound, rather than simply insufficient tread depth. Inspect all four tyres physically for hairline cracks in the sidewall flex zone and between the tread blocks, paying particular attention to any tyres that still carry the original fitment or that appear older than five years from their DOT date stamp. On the test drive, monitor for any vagueness in steering response, tramlining over road imperfections, or uneven tyre wear patterns that could indicate worn front suspension components such as bottom arms, anti-roll bar links, or track rod ends, none of which have yet been flagged but are common wear items on a C-Max of this vintage. Finally, given the prolonged low-use profile, check that the engine starts cleanly from cold, that the cooling fan cycles correctly, and that there are no signs of coolant or oil leaks from seals that may have dried and shrunk during periods of inactivity.