2016 Ford Grand C-MAX 1.0L Petrol · WP66 XMD

The 2016 Ford Grand C-Max holds a current MOT pass certificate dated 21 March 2026 at 74,868 miles, but the record reveals a mixed maintenance picture rather than a clean bill of health. The most recent test was a retest following a failure on the same day, triggered by both rear stop lamps being inoperative. That electrical fault was rectified promptly, yet the tester still flagged two advisories for worn nearside and offside front lower suspension arm pins or bushes. Critically, an oil leak noted as not excessive in March 2026 also appeared in the January 2025 failure, suggesting a minor but persistent fluid seepage that has gone unaddressed for over a year. The trend is broadly stable but shows a pattern of deferred minor faults rather than proactive correction. The mileage progression tells a coherent story. Between the February 2024 pass at 68,408 miles and the January 2025 test at 74,167 miles, the car covered 5,759 miles in roughly eleven months, then recorded no meaningful mileage increase between January 2025 and March 2026, sitting at 74,868 miles. That near-standstill of over a year raises the possibility of prolonged periods of disuse, which can accelerate brake disc corrosion, tyre flat-spotting, and moisture ingress into fluid systems. The annualised average of roughly 7,487 miles is typical for the vehicle's age, but the recent plateau warrants closer scrutiny of components that suffer from inactivity rather than use. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension, given the repeated advisory for worn lower suspension arm bushes at the most recent test. Worn bushes affect steering precision and tyre wear, and if deterioration has progressed since March, the next test could escalate this to a failure. The persistent oil leak, though currently deemed minor, demands identification of its source, whether that is a rocker cover gasket, oil filter housing, or crankshaft seal, as small leaks can worsen rapidly. Brake pads were flagged as wearing thin in January 2025, so pad thickness and disc condition need verifying now, especially given the risk of surface corrosion from the vehicle's recent period of low use. The January 2025 failure also identified a structural bulge in the nearside rear tyre, indicating internal damage that should have been replaced; a fresh inspection of all four tyres, including sidewalls and inner edges, is essential. Finally, check all exterior lamp units and wiring for water ingress, given the dual stop lamp failure earlier this year.