Ford S-Max Exhaust System: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

A confirmed, major current Ford-wide recall covers DPF cracking on diesel S-Max models built 2014-2023 — check your registration before anything else.

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OEM Part Numbers

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: aftermarket "sports" or performance exhaust systems for the S-Max can affect MOT compliance if they remove or bypass the catalytic converter, DPF, or other emissions equipment — confirm any aftermarket system is emissions-legal for road use before fitting, since a louder exhaust alone isn't automatically an MOT failure but removed emissions equipment usually is.

A Genuinely Major, Current Recall Worth Checking If You Have a Diesel — Ford S-Max Exhaust System

This is worth checking directly against your registration if you own a diesel S-Max: Ford has confirmed a major, current recall (reference 24E06, part of the broader KBA 14555R campaign) addressing a design-related weakness in the Diesel Particulate Filter material that can develop hairline cracks over its service life. This isn't a minor administrative recall — a cracked DPF lets unburned particulate matter bypass the filter, which can cause a failed MOT emissions test and potential Clean Air Zone compliance issues. The recall covers over 1.2 million Ford diesel vehicles worldwide across nearly the entire range — including the S-Max — built between 2014 and 2023.

What Ford's remedy involves: a free software recalibration to the DPF regeneration process, along with inspection and, where necessary, filter replacement — carried out at no charge at any authorised Ford dealer. Replacement filters carry a genuinely generous 10-year/160,000km warranty. Check your registration at gov.uk/check-vehicle-recalls, and don't ignore a spanner or engine management warning light if you haven't yet had this checked.

The Part That Announces Its Own Problems

Unlike a lot of the parts on this site, this is one where you'll usually hear the fault before you see it — a rattle, a drone, a sudden increase in noise that wasn't there last week. That's actually useful, since it gives you a head start on catching problems early.

Before you buy: exhaust configuration differs significantly by engine size, fuel type and whether your car has a particulate filter. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Ford S-Max Exhaust System reference plate

What It Does

The exhaust system channels burnt gases away from the engine, reduces noise through the silencer, and on most modern cars, treats emissions through a catalytic converter and particulate filter before gases exit the tailpipe. Petrol and diesel versions of the same model often use entirely different systems due to different emissions treatment requirements.

Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Exhaust System Guide for warning signs and fault codes to watch for, confirming fitment against your VIN, and which aftermarket brands are worth trusting.

More Ford Exhaust System

The same part, covered across other Ford models.

Ford S-Max Exhaust System: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

OEM Part Numbers

A Genuinely Major, Current Recall Worth Checking If You Have a Diesel — Ford S-Max Exhaust System

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