Used Ford B-Max 2012-2017 reliability
Category: MPV
The pillarless Ford B-Max makes light work of putting children in car seats, and it’s not bad to drive
What should I look for in a used Ford B-Max hatchback?
The B-Max is an MPV that appeals to families, so check the interior thoroughly for stains to the seats and carpet and the dashboard and door cards for any broken or scratched plastic trim.
Ford often fits its excellent Quickclear heated windscreen to most mid-range spec cars and above, but this will cost you more to replace than a windscreen without a heating element in it, so look for any stone chips – these might result in an MOT failure.
If you’re considering a B-Max with Ford's Powershift automatic gearbox, ensure it shifts gears smoothly with no juddering when you pull away or come to a stop. Also look for evidence that the gearbox's fluids have been changed every third service in order to maintain correct operation and benefit from any warranty protection should you encounter a problem.
What are the most common problems with a used Ford B-Max hatchback?
The 1.5-litre diesel engine is fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). To ensure that this can regenerate (burn off trapped soot), frequent motorway journeys are necessary, because this process is only triggered when the exhaust is hot enough. Check how the previous owner has used the car if you're unsure, because lots of urban journeys will clog up the filter, potentially leading to an expensive repair bill.
Other potential problems with the DPF come if it has been shut off part way through regeneration. The result is contamination of the oil system with fuel, which leads to the oil level rising gradually over time. This can cause damage to the engine, so it’s worth checking the oil level or have the car inspected if you're uncertain.
Is a used Ford B-Max hatchback reliable?
Most certainly: the B-Max was the most reliable MPV according to our latest What Car? Reliability Survey. Only 17% of B-Maxes had faults, and while these spanned from both minor and more serious issues, including the Quickclear screen and the steering system, all were fixed under warranty.
Ford as a brand came 9th out of 32 manufacturers, which is a very good result considering the huge number of cars that it sells.
If you'd like to see the full reliability rankings for MPVs, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages.
