Before you buy a used Ford S-Max / Galaxy (II).

2015–2023 · Petrol / Hybrid / Diesel · 3 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Vauxford · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

4 documented, sourced faults across its 3 engines.
3 of them depend on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
5 official recalls on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm they have been done.
According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 2.5 Hybrid (Hybrid).

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 3 of its engines.

Lights, brakes, oil leaks and campaigns on the S-Max IIKnown weak points
Period mentioned
2015–2023
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.

1.5 / 2.0 EcoBoost

Petrol

Block cracks on the 1.5 and 2.0 EcoBoost with coolant lossCooling
Period mentioned
Approx. 2014–2019
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.

2.5 Hybrid

Hybrid

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

2.0 TDCi / EcoBlue

Diesel

2.0/2.2 HDi DPF, EGR, turbo and flywheelDPF / EGR / turbo / flywheel
Period mentioned
1998–2015
Mileage mentioned
120,000–180,000 km
Applies if: Only the 2.0 TDCi (until 2018), which is the PSA DW10 engine.
Oil-immersed timing belt on the 2.0 EcoBlueTiming system
Period mentioned
2016 onwards
Mileage mentioned
What the sheet says: Diesel from unfinished particulate-filter regenerations gets into the oil and degrades the belt, which runs in it; in extreme cases material comes off and blocks the oil-pump strainer. Ford cut the belt, tensioner and idler change from 10 years or 240,000 km to 6 years or 160,000 km on the Transit and Transit Custom.
Applies if: Only the 2.0 EcoBlue (oil-immersed belt); confirm the interval for your version at the garage.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Ford S-Max / Galaxy (II)
Engine	Documented faults	Recalls
1.5 / 2.0 EcoBoostPetrol	21 with conditions	5
2.5 HybridHybridFewest documented	11 with conditions	5
2.0 TDCi / EcoBlueDiesel	33 with conditions	5

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 2.5 Hybrid (Hybrid).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Hybrid.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
Ask an official Ford dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.

Ford airbag and seat-belt recalls (2001–2026)Airbags and seat belts