2007 Ford S-MAX 2.0L Diesel · SV57 WRC

The 2007 Ford S-MAX passed its most recent MOT on 26 February 2026 at 129,874 miles, but the record reveals a maintenance pattern that is broadly stable with persistent, recurring wear rather than a clean bill of health. The February 2026 test flagged play in the offside front track rod end ball joint and a severely deteriorated anti-roll bar linkage dust cover, both classic symptoms of ageing front-end components on a vehicle approaching 130,000 miles. The tester also noted the nearside front tyre wearing close to the legal limit on its outer edge, which hints at possible tracking misalignment or worn suspension bushes allowing uneven camber. These are not fresh, alarming defects; they are the kind of advisories that accumulate on a well-used, ageing MPV and suggest the previous owner kept the car on the road without necessarily addressing underlying wear comprehensively. The mileage progression tells a consistent story. Between the failed test on 5 January 2024 at 120,231 miles and the March 2025 pass at 124,373 miles, the car covered roughly 4,142 miles in fourteen months. From March 2025 to February 2026 it added another 5,501 miles, indicating a slight uptick in use. Over its nineteen-year life the car has averaged approximately 6,835 miles per year, which is typical for a family MPV of this age. There are no suspicious mileage gaps or sudden drops that would suggest long-term standing or clocking. The annual test intervals are broadly regular, with the failed January 2024 test followed by a retest pass on 22 January 2024 at the same mileage, confirming the defects were addressed at that time. The January 2024 failure is the most revealing entry in the entire history. The tester found excessive wear in both rear trailing arm bushes, corrosion on the rear subframe mounting prescribed areas described as significantly reducing structural strength, and a missing nearside front steering rack gaiter. These are not minor consumable items. Excessively corroded subframe mountings on a vehicle of this age raise legitimate questions about the overall structural integrity of the rear underside, and the missing gaiter would have exposed the steering rack to dirt and moisture, accelerating wear. The fact that the car passed just seventeen days later suggests repairs were carried out, but the underlying conditions that caused that level of corrosion and component neglect warrant a thorough underside inspection before purchase. A buyer should pay particular attention to the rear subframe and its mounting points, checking for fresh welding, plating, or replacement covers that might mask ongoing corrosion. The front suspension bushes, ball joints, and track rod ends deserve close scrutiny given the recurring advisories across multiple tests. Rear brake hoses and ferrules have shown corrosion in both the 2022 and 2024 records, so inspect those carefully for pitting or weeping. Tyre wear patterns, especially on the outer edges, should be examined to confirm whether the tracking and suspension geometry are in specification. The offside rear brake imbalance flagged in the 2024 failure also warrants a check of the rear calipers for sticking pistons or uneven disc wear. Overall, this is a vehicle that has been kept running rather than restored, and its value should reflect the likelihood of further suspension and corrosion-related work.