Ford S-Max WA6
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
220 PS
2.5L Duratec-ST Benzin
Sportiest Van
Fun to Drive!116 PS
1.6L Duratorq TDCi Diesel
9 weaknesses
Stay Away!Generations
Engine Overview
The Ford S-Max WA6 is available with 9 engine variants — from 116 to 241 hp. 2 variants had engine changes — the model year is crucial.
The Ford 1.6L Duratorq TDCi (Diesel, 115 PS) has the T1WA (1.6L Duratorq TDCi) — rated: "Stay Away!", 9 known weaknesses.
The Ford 1.8L Duratorq TDCi (Diesel, 125 PS) has the QYWA (1.8L Duratorq TDCi) — rated: "Stay Away!", 7 known weaknesses.
The Ford 2.0L Duratorq TDCi (Diesel, 140–163 PS) comes with 3 different engines: QXWA (2006–2010, Be Careful) und TXWA (2010–2015, Stay Away!) und UFWA (2010–2015, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 2.0L Duratorq TDCi!
The Ford 2.2L Duratorq TDCi (Diesel, 175–200 PS) comes with 3 different engines: Q4WA (2006–2010, Be Careful) und KNBA (2010–2015, Be Careful) und KNWA (2010–2015, Stay Away!). Pay attention to the model year for the 2.2L Duratorq TDCi!
The Ford 1.6L EcoBoost (Benziner, 160 PS) has the JTWA (1.6L EcoBoost) — rated: "Stay Away!", 7 known weaknesses.
The Ford 2.0L Duratec-HE (Benziner, 145 PS) has the AOWA (2.0L Duratec-HE) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Ford 2.0L EcoBoost (Benziner, 240 PS) has the TPBA (2.0L EcoBoost) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Ford 2.3L Duratec-HE (Benziner, 161 PS) has the SEWA (2.3L Duratec-HE) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Ford 2.5L Duratec-ST (Benziner, 220 PS) has the HUWA (2.5L Duratec-ST) — rated: "Be Careful", 7 known weaknesses.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Wiring harness damaged by washer reservoir An overflowing windscreen washer reservoir damages the wiring harness that runs below it. Cable insulation is attacked by the fluid, which can lead to engine stalling, AC failure and fault code P0003. Symptoms: Unexpected engine stall, fault messages in the instrument cluster, air conditioning stops working. from 100,000 km | Medium | |
| Central locking opens/locks unintentionally The central locking on the S-Max WA6 is known to be fault-prone: doors open spontaneously or cannot be opened, particularly the tailgate. In the worst case doors open while driving. Symptoms: Doors open unintentionally or stay locked, tailgate doesn't respond to key fob. from 80,000 km | Low | |
| Tyre pressure sensors: valve corrosion and seal failure The TPMS tyre pressure sensors on the S-Max WA6 corrode at the valve stem and mounting, causing seal failure. In the worst case the valve can fracture and cause sudden pressure loss, especially at higher speeds. Symptoms: TPMS warning light illuminated permanently; tyre pressure display missing or showing an error; audible hissing at the tyre. from 100,000 km | Low |
Top Reported Issues
Alternatives
Known Problems and Issues
A total of 101 weaknesses have been documented for the Ford S-Max WA6 (2006–2015) — 93 engine-related and 8 vehicle-related. 6 problem engines: TPBA (2.0L EcoBoost), QYWA (1.8L Duratorq TDCi), JTWA (1.6L EcoBoost), TXWA (2.0L Duratorq TDCi), T1WA (1.6L Duratorq TDCi), KNWA (2.2L Duratorq TDCi). Typical issues affect Electronics, Suspension, Gearbox, Rust.
S-Max (QYWA, 2006–2010) — Stay Away!: Injector seal: "Black Death" failure, Turbocharger failure, Seized Injectors — Cannot Be Extracted. Power: 125 PS.
S-Max (QXWA, 2006–2010) — Be Careful: Injector Wear and Leaks, High-Pressure Pump Metal Contamination and Failure, Timing Belt Early Failure — Interval Too Long. Power: 140 PS.
S-Max (Q4WA, 2006–2010) — Be Careful: Injector Failure and Piston Damage, Oil Pump Failure (Ranger 2.2), High-Pressure Pump Failure. Power: 175 PS.
S-Max (KNBA, 2010–2015) — Be Careful: Injector Failure and Piston Damage, Oil Pump Failure (Ranger 2.2), High-Pressure Fuel Pump: Metal Wear and Failure. Power: 200 PS.
S-Max (TXWA, 2010–2015) — Stay Away!: Injector Wear and Leaks, Oil Bath Belt Clogs Oil Pump Strainer, Premature Turbocharger Failure from Oil Starvation. Power: 163 PS.
S-Max (T1WA, 2010–2015) — Stay Away!: Injector Seal 'Black Death' Failure, Turbocharger Failure from Oil Starvation, High-Pressure Pump Metal Debris and Failure. Power: 115 PS.
S-Max (UFWA, 2010–2015) — Be Careful: Injector Wear and Leaks, High-Pressure Pump Metal Debris and Failure, Premature Timing Belt Failure — Interval Too Long. Power: 140 PS.
S-Max (KNWA, 2010–2015) — Stay Away!: Injector Failure and Piston Damage, Oil Pump Failure (Ranger 2.2), Timing Chain Stretch. Power: 200 PS.
S-Max (AOWA, 2006–2010) — Be Careful: Intake Throttle Plate Risk (Galaxy/S-Max), Timing Chain Tensioner Wearing Out, Increased Oil Consumption. Power: 145 PS.
S-Max (SEWA, 2006–2010) — Be Careful: Intake Swirl Flap Issue (S-Max), Connecting Rod Bearing Damage at High Mileage, Increased Oil Consumption. Power: 161 PS.
S-Max (HUWA, 2006–2010) — Be Careful: Turbocharger Wear on the Five-Cylinder, Timing Belt — Long Neglected Change, Fuel System Issues — Hesitation at Part-Throttle. Power: 220 PS.
S-Max (TPBA, 2010–2015) — Stay Away!: Hairline Cracks in Engine Block (Older Models), PowerShift Gearbox Judder, Turbocharger Wear. Power: 240 PS.
S-Max (JTWA, 2010–2015) — Stay Away!: Cylinder Head Cracks — Recall Issue, PowerShift Gearbox Judder on Take-Off, Turbocharger Wear. Power: 160 PS.
What to watch out for with the Ford S-Max? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee