Ford Focus MOT Check
MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Ford Focus. Check any Focus by registration number below.
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74.2%
Avg Pass Rate
-10.9%
vs Ford Avg
28
Year Ranges
Average
Reliability
Ford Focus — MOT Reliability Overview
The Ford Focus has an average MOT pass rate of 74.2%, which is 10.9 percentage points below the Ford brand average of 85.1%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your Focus on the road.
The most common reasons a Ford Focus fails its MOT are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded. If you are preparing your Focus for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.
Typical mileage for the Focus is around 42,000 miles at 5 years. When evaluating a used Focus, compare the odometer reading against these benchmarks. Significantly lower mileage than expected could indicate a clocked vehicle — run a free mileage check to verify.
Before buying a used Ford Focus, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.
MOT Pass Rate by Year
How the Ford Focus performs at MOT across different model years.
2023
Based on 32 vehicles
0.0%
3.6%
2022
Based on 755 vehicles
2.7%
7.6%
37k mi
2021
Based on 18,971 vehicles
2.9%
10.6%
48k mi
2020
Based on 84,553 vehicles
3.1%
9.9%
42k mi
66k mi
2019
Based on 137,039 vehicles
4.4%
12.8%
42k mi
66k mi
2018
Based on 120,691 vehicles
4.4%
12.4%
64k mi
2017
Based on 160,590 vehicles
4.3%
12.9%
73k mi
2016
Based on 159,629 vehicles
4.6%
14.9%
2015
Based on 185,640 vehicles
4.8%
17.5%
129k mi
2014
Based on 181,074 vehicles
5.7%
24.4%
131k mi
2013
Based on 179,442 vehicles
6.5%
26.8%
134k mi
2012
Based on 166,743 vehicles
7.4%
27.2%
142k mi
2011
Based on 155,064 vehicles
8.8%
29.7%
2010
Based on 135,532 vehicles
9.0%
30.4%
2009
Based on 142,172 vehicles
8.8%
30.3%
2008
Based on 123,111 vehicles
8.5%
30.7%
2007
Based on 108,233 vehicles
7.5%
28.4%
2006
Based on 79,247 vehicles
7.6%
28.2%
2005
Based on 59,133 vehicles
7.8%
31.2%
2004
Based on 42,265 vehicles
8.6%
31.6%
2003
Based on 32,045 vehicles
8.1%
29.7%
2002
Based on 25,641 vehicles
7.9%
30.0%
2001
Based on 14,802 vehicles
8.0%
29.3%
2000
Based on 52,877 vehicles
8.2%
30.6%
153k mi
1999
Based on 66,616 vehicles
5.2%
33.4%
146k mi
1998–2025
Based on 165,000 vehicles
0.0%
0.2%
24k mi
42k mi
78k mi
1997
Based on 1,042 vehicles
0
Based on 1,207,223 vehicles
82k mi
Top MOT Failures — Ford Focus
The most common reasons a Ford Focus fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Where Failures Occur
The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.
Front Offside Lower
Typical Mileage — Ford Focus
Average mileage readings recorded at MOT tests for the 1998–2025 model year range. Use these benchmarks to evaluate a used Focus.
At 3 Years
24,000
miles
At 5 Years
42,000
miles
At 10 Years
78,000
miles
Other Ford Models
Compare MOT reliability across Ford models.
Ford Focus — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Ford Focus MOT and reliability.
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Focus?
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Focus?
Is the Ford Focus reliable?
How do I check the MOT history of a Ford Focus?
What mileage should I expect on a Ford Focus?
Check Your Ford Focus's MOT History
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