Ford Focus common problems by mileage
What UK MOT testers flag on the Ford Focus at each age and mileage, compared with all cars.
In 1,000,159 UK MOT tests of the Ford Focus in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is individual direction indicators (slightly discoloured): recorded on 3.4% of tests of 2012–2014 cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km), 3.8× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: exhaust system (mounting defective) (3.7×); headlamp (a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output) (6.3×); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) (3.4×). The most common reasons a Ford Focus fails its MOT are position lamp (not working); coil spring (fractured or broken); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect).
Last updated: · Source: DVSA anonymised MOT data 2023
What stands out on the Ford Focus
Parts that MOT testers flag clearly more often on the Ford Focus than on all cars of the same age at the same mileage (at least 1.5× the rate and 3% of tests).
| Issue | Type | First used | Mileage | Share of tests | All cars this age | Ratio | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured | Advisory | 2012–2014 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3.4% | 0.9% | 3.8× | 58,134 |
| Exhaust system: mounting defective | Advisory | 2008–2010 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 6.3% | 1.7% | 3.7× | 39,876 |
| Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output | Advisory | 1997–1999 | 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 6.9% | 1.1% | 6.3× | 346 |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | MOT fail | 2009–2011 | 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 7.9% | 2.3% | 3.4× | 38,555 |
| Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 1998–2000 | 160k+ mi (257k+ km) | 13% | 2.3% | 5.7× | 494 |
| Coil spring: corroded | Advisory | 2001–2003 | 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 16% | 2.9% | 5.3× | 466 |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened | Advisory | 2003–2005 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 9.1% | 2.7% | 3.4× | 10,248 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction | MOT fail | 2020–2022 | 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 3.6% | 0.8% | 4.5× | 907 |
Ford Focus by mileage (2017–2019 cars)
The most-tested first-use years. For each mileage band: how many MOT tests, the most common item, and the item that stands out most against other cars.
| Mileage | Tests | Most common | Stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) | 23,070 | Tyres (condition): slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (8.3%) | Brake pads: wearing thin (3.2%, 1.8×) |
| 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) | 70,944 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (15%) | — |
| 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) | 47,213 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (19%) | — |
| 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) | 17,965 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20%) | — |
| 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) | 5,867 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20%) | — |
| 100k–120k mi (161k–193k km) | 2,085 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (20%) | Position lamp: not working (3.5%, 2.1×) |
| 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) | 756 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21%) | Position lamp: not working (4.8%, 2.5×) |
| 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) | 306 | Tyres (tread depth): worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21%) | — |
Ford Focus by first-use year
| First used | Tests | Biggest stand-out issue |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 110 | Headlamp: has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (6.3×) |
| 1999 | 1,728 | Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (5.7×) |
| 2000 | 3,330 | Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4.3×) |
| 2001 | 7,021 | Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.6×) |
| 2002 | 11,729 | Coil spring: corroded at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (5.3×) |
| 2003 | 15,065 | Coil spring: corroded at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (5×) |
| 2004 | 22,952 | Coil spring: corroded at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (5.1×) |
| 2005 | 31,624 | Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened at 40k–60k mi (64k–97k km) (3×) |
| 2006 | 41,316 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.5×) |
| 2007 | 51,605 | Pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement at 20k–40k mi (32k–64k km) (3.5×) |
| 2008 | 54,964 | Exhaust system: mounting defective at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (3.3×) |
| 2009 | 61,716 | Exhaust system: mounting defective at 80k–100k mi (129k–161k km) (3.7×) |
| 2010 | 58,402 | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3.9×) |
| 2011 | 66,879 | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (3.9×) |
| 2012 | 70,554 | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (3.6×) |
| 2013 | 75,573 | Individual direction indicators: slightly discoloured at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (3.8×) |
| 2014 | 76,085 | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect at 140k–160k mi (225k–257k km) (3.7×) |
| 2015 | 75,967 | Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (3.2×) |
| 2016 | 64,350 | Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative at 160k+ mi (257k+ km) (4×) |
| 2017 | 64,206 | Position lamp: not working at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (2.4×) |
| 2018 | 47,997 | Position lamp: not working at 120k–140k mi (193k–225k km) (2.5×) |
| 2019 | 56,183 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (2.1×) |
| 2020 | 39,327 | Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened at 0k–20k mi (0k–32k km) (2.5×) |
| 2021 | 1,449 | Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) (4.5×) |
How these numbers are made
From the DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2023: every normal MOT test of a car in Great Britain, with its mileage and every advisory and failure item. For each first-use year (pooled with the years either side) and 20,000-mile band we count the share of tests where a part was recorded, and compare it with the same share for every car of that age at that mileage. A cell is shown only with 300 or more tests. Advisories are tester notes, not failures. Figures describe UK-market cars; engines and equipment can differ in other countries.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2023).
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Ford Focus?
In 1,000,159 UK MOT tests of the Ford Focus in 2023, the problem that most sets it apart from other cars is individual direction indicators (slightly discoloured): recorded on 3.4% of tests of 2012–2014 cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km), 3.8× the rate for all cars of that age and mileage. Other stand-out issues: exhaust system (mounting defective) (3.7×); headlamp (a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output) (6.3×); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) (3.4×). The most common reasons a Ford Focus fails its MOT are position lamp (not working); coil spring (fractured or broken); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect).
Why do Ford Focuss fail the MOT?
Across 1,000,159 MOT tests in 2023, the most common failure items on the Ford Focus were position lamp (not working) (6% of tests); coil spring (fractured or broken) (6.7% of tests); headlamp aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) (6.2% of tests).
At what mileage do Ford Focus problems start?
The clearest Ford Focus-specific issue, individual direction indicators (slightly discoloured), peaks against other cars at 60k–80k mi (97k–129k km) on 2012–2014 cars (3.4% of tests vs 0.9% for all cars that age).
Where does this Ford Focus data come from?
From the UK government's anonymised MOT test data (DVSA, 2023, Open Government Licence v3.0): 1,000,159 tests of the Ford Focus. VinSnap shows the same numbers for your own car's age and mileage in the app.