Does the Ford S-MAX fail the MOT on visibility more than it should?

The Ford S-MAX records 8.79 visibility failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 7.91 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+0.88, 95% interval +0.79 to +0.96). It ranks 229 of 746 models on visibility (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on visibility · check a Ford S-MAX by registration

What exactly fails on visibility?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Ford S-MAX is “Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view”, recorded 13,460 times in 2019–2024.

Ford S-MAX: most frequent visibility defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wording	Items	Per 100 tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view	13,460	2.82
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	8,184	1.72
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	7,275	1.53
Wiper blade defective	5,070	1.06
Obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or loose	4,681	0.98

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 476,737 (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

Does the Ford S-MAX fail the MOT on visibility more than it should?

What exactly fails on visibility?

Related pages

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