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Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Ford S-Max II: the buying guide

MPV · 2015–2023 · Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

✓ 23 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Buy with care
Reliability
3.5/5
Estimated monthly cost
€471/month
Indicative prices
€14,435 – €25,923

4 known faults

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Ford S-Max II, front three-quarter view

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Buy with care

Seven-seat MPV rated 5 stars by Euro NCAP (2015), with a generous boot. It has been the subject of several recall campaigns for fire risk (battery) or suspension failure (rear arm bolts), and the 2.0 EcoBlue diesel has a timing belt running in oil that needs watching. Check with the serial number that the campaigns have been carried out and insist on a documented service history.

Reliability
3.5/5
Indicative prices
€14,435 – €25,923
Monthly cost
€471
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: 2.5 Hybrid 190.

  • 2.0 TDCi 150

    Diesel · Manual · 150 hp · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 TDCi from the first series (2015), cited by L'argus with 120 and 180 hp; four-wheel drive offered on some versions.

  • 2.0 EcoBoost 240

    Petrol · Automatic · 240 hp · Crit'Air 1

    2.0 EcoBoost, paired with the PowerShift gearbox in the Caradisiac listing (Sport Platinum seven-seat version).

  • 2.0 EcoBlue 150

    Diesel · Manual · 150 hp · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 EcoBlue (370 Nm), available with a manual gearbox (Autotijd listing) or an eight-speed automatic. Its timing belt runs in oil: check the service history.

  • 2.0 EcoBlue 190

    Diesel · Automatic · 190 hp · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 EcoBlue with 400 Nm and an eight-speed automatic gearbox (Autotijd). The same precautions apply to the timing belt.

  • 2.5 Hybrid 190

    ✓ Recommended

    Hybrid · Automatic · 190 hp · 6.4 L/100 km · Crit'Air 1

    Non-plug-in hybrid: 2.5 petrol engine on the Atkinson cycle and an electric motor, 190 hp, WLTP consumption of 6.4 l/100 km (Paris Match Belgium). Moniteur Automobile notes that the battery does not encroach on the boot. No fault specific to this version has been documented in our research.

Market prices

€14,435 – €25,923

Indicative range: 2016 to 2022, yearly medians of 78 online listings collected by AutoUncle (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

'Wet' timing belt on the 2.0 EcoBlue: wear and debris

Severity 3/3 · Serious

On the 2.0 EcoBlue, the timing belt runs in oil. According to Dayco, dilution of the oil by diesel is not rare and can degrade the belt; fragments can block the oil pump strainer and deprive the engine of lubrication. The component supplier advises checking the oil and the condition of the belt at every workshop visit. CarChecker quotes 1,000 to 2,500 € for a repair linked to the wet belt on the S-Max Mk2 (EcoBlue from 2018).

Versions
2.0 EcoBlue 150, 2.0 EcoBlue 190
Onset
not documented
Repair
€1,000 to €2,500

Faulty 2.0 EcoBlue injectors (2019 batch)

Severity 2/3 · Costly

Ford has identified a batch of faulty high-pressure injectors (supplier not meeting its quality requirements) on 2.0 EcoBlue engines built between 25 February and 13 September 2019, the S-Max included. Symptoms: misfiring and loss of engine performance. Ford covers the repair of the vehicles concerned.

Versions
2.0 EcoBlue 150, 2.0 EcoBlue 190
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

12 V battery leak: overheating and fire risk

Manufacturer recall

In 2019, Ford recalled around 322,000 Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy vehicles built between February 2014 and February 2019: acid could leak from the negative terminal of the starter battery and disable the battery monitoring system, with a risk of overheating and then fire under the bonnet. The announced fix is an intermediate cable with a fuse. It can be checked using the serial number.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
2.0 TDCi 150, 2.0 EcoBoost 240, 2.0 EcoBlue 150, 2.0 EcoBlue 190
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Corrosion of the rear suspension arm bolts

Manufacturer recall

Ford campaign 20S75 concerns S-Max and Galaxy vehicles built between 20 January 2015 and 18 February 2020: the original bolts of the rear suspension arms are prone to corrosion and can break, which reduces steering control and increases the risk of an accident. Have it checked by Ford using the serial number.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
2.0 TDCi 150, 2.0 EcoBoost 240, 2.0 EcoBlue 150, 2.0 EcoBlue 190
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Ford S-Max”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€158
Insurance€90
Maintenance€36
Depreciation€187
Total per month€471

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Consumption taken from a published range (depends on trim and tyres).
  • Insurance: brand average, as no average is published for this model.
  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Maintenance: budget of a closely related model.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€158

2.5 Hybrid 190 version: combined consumption of 6.4 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

6.4 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €158

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€90

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€36

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€187

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Have a Ford dealer check, using the serial number, that the campaigns have been carried out: 12 V battery, rear arm bolts (20S75), and on EcoBlue engines the particulate filter (24E06, see car-recalls.eu).
  • 2.0 EcoBlue diesel: ask for proof that the timing belt has been checked or replaced, and check there is no smell of diesel in the oil.
  • Check the condition and tightness of the rear suspension links during the test drive (noises, rear-end behaviour).
  • Test the third-row seats and the electronics (screen, sensors, automatic air conditioning), which are often mentioned in owner reviews.
  • Ask for a complete service book, preferably from Ford, with detailed invoices.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Have the recall campaigns (battery, rear suspension arms, diesel particulate filter) been carried out? Do you have the paperwork?
  • For an EcoBlue diesel: has the timing belt been checked or replaced, and when?
  • Do you have all the service invoices, with dates and mileages?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Renault Espace

V · 2015–2023

Buy with care
Price
€11,400 – €31,000
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Peugeot 5008

II · 2017–2024

Extra caution
Price
€13,100 – €27,000
Reliability
2/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Renault Scénic

IV · 2016–2022

Buy with care
Price
€7,890 – €17,439
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: Harvey Bold, CC0

Ford Kuga

III · since 2019

Buy with care
Price
€13,400 – €30,500
Reliability
not rated
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Ford S-Max II (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ford S-Max 2 reliable?

The UTAC 2025 MOT failure statistics reported by iautos.fr are better than those of the first generation (11.9% out of 3,998 tests compared with 25.3%). However, the second generation has had several recalls (battery, rear arm bolts) and the 2.0 EcoBlue needs its timing belt monitoring.

How big is the S-Max 2's boot?

700 litres in the five-seat configuration, about 285 litres with all seven seats in use and up to 2,000 litres with the rear seats folded (Fiches-auto). L'argus states that the capacity has not changed from the previous generation.

Does the S-Max 2 have good safety results?

It achieved five stars at Euro NCAP in 2015, with 87% for adult occupants according to Ford. This rating dates from 2015 and is therefore out of date.

Found a listing?

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