Does the Ford C-MAX fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Ford C-MAX records 12.93 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 15.90 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.97, 95% interval −3.07 to −2.88). It ranks 443 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Ford C-MAX by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Ford C-MAX is “A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”, recorded 12,818 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 12,818 | 1.80 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 12,687 | 1.78 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 10,555 | 1.48 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 10,206 | 1.43 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 8,056 | 1.13 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 712,923 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Ford C-MAX gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
21.2% of Ford C-MAX MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 6,568 miles later (11,960 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 11,960 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Ford C-MAX 2005 · Ford C-MAX 2006 · Ford C-MAX 2007 · Ford C-MAX 2008 · Ford C-MAX 2009 · Ford C-MAX 2010 · Ford C-MAX 2011 · Ford C-MAX 2012 · Ford C-MAX 2013 · Ford C-MAX 2014 · Ford C-MAX 2015 · Ford C-MAX 2016 · Ford C-MAX 2017 · Ford C-MAX 2018 · Ford C-MAX 2019 · Ford C-MAX in Norway · Ford C-MAX in Finland · Ford C-MAX in the Netherlands · Ford C-MAX by postcode area · Ford C-MAX body, chassis and structure failures · Ford C-MAX brakes failures · Ford C-MAX vehicle identification failures · Ford C-MAX noise, emissions and leaks failures · Ford C-MAX road wheels failures · Ford C-MAX seat belts and airbags failures · Ford C-MAX steering failures · Ford C-MAX suspension failures · Ford C-MAX tyres failures · Ford C-MAX visibility failures