Ford Focus MOT pass rates & common failures

Every completed first-attempt MOT on a Ford Focus in Great Britain in 2025 — 886,912 tests. Figures cover every Focus first-tested in 2025, all trims grouped. How the Focus ages, what it fails on, and what mileage is normal, computed directly from the official DVSA record of every test.

Pass rate 2025
68.0%
4.3 points below the class-4 average (72.3%); unadjusted for age — the age-matched comparison is below
Tests analysed
886,912
first tests, 2025
Arrived with a dangerous fault
8.9%
of Focus first tests; national 7.3%
Typical mileage at 10 years
78,750
middle half: 58,750–98,750 miles (2,500-mile-band midpoints)

How many Ford Focus cars are still on the road?

At the end of 2025, DVLA's register held 1,002,332 Ford Focus cars that were taxed or on SORN: 895,534 taxed and 106,798 on SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification — kept, but declared off the road by the keeper). The MOT figures above count tests; these count cars, across the whole United Kingdom, cars only. Ford Focus vans, where they exist, are counted by DVLA as goods vehicles and are not in these figures.

Still taxed, end of 2025
895,534
89.3% of the 1,002,332 Focus cars taxed or on SORN; 335 model variants grouped
On SORN, end of 2025
106,798
declared off the road by their keepers — 10.7% of that total

How the numbers are moving

The number of taxed Focus cars peaked at 1,473,067 at the end of 2014 and has since fallen by 577,533 (39.2%) to 895,534 at the end of 2025. Cars on SORN went from 28,841 at the end of 2014 to 106,798 at the end of 2025, up 270.3%. A car leaves the taxed count when it is scrapped, exported or declared off the road; the year-end counts do not say which.

Taxed Focus cars, year by year

Cars of this model taxed and on the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025.

0500k1M1.5M2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Taxed Focus cars, year 2014: 1.5MTaxed Focus cars, year 2015: 1.5MTaxed Focus cars, year 2016: 1.4MTaxed Focus cars, year 2017: 1.4MTaxed Focus cars, year 2018: 1.3MTaxed Focus cars, year 2019: 1.2MTaxed Focus cars, year 2020: 1.2MTaxed Focus cars, year 2021: 1.1MTaxed Focus cars, year 2022: 1.1MTaxed Focus cars, year 2023: 1MTaxed Focus cars, year 2024: 953kTaxed Focus cars, year 2025: 896k896k
View this chart as a table
YearTaxed Focus cars
20141,473,067
20151,455,849
20161,424,483
20171,368,111
20181,297,798
20191,238,969
20201,179,024
20211,110,112
20221,056,307
20231,008,122
2024952,570
2025895,534

Focus cars on SORN, year by year

Cars of this model declared off the road at the end of each year, 2014–2025. Its own scale — SORN counts are a fraction of the taxed count.

050k100k150k2014201620182020202220242025Year (count at the end of the year)Focus cars on SORN, year 2014: 29kFocus cars on SORN, year 2015: 43kFocus cars on SORN, year 2016: 58kFocus cars on SORN, year 2017: 65kFocus cars on SORN, year 2018: 71kFocus cars on SORN, year 2019: 79kFocus cars on SORN, year 2020: 88kFocus cars on SORN, year 2021: 89kFocus cars on SORN, year 2022: 91kFocus cars on SORN, year 2023: 97kFocus cars on SORN, year 2024: 101kFocus cars on SORN, year 2025: 107k107k
View this chart as a table
YearFocus cars on SORN
201428,841
201543,129
201657,786
201765,305
201871,370
201978,886
202087,732
202189,160
202291,171
202397,009
2024101,271
2025106,798

Which model years survive

Taxed Focus cars at the end of 2025 by year of manufacture, and each year's share of the 895,534 taxed in all. Every build year holding at least 1% has its own row; the rest share one. 3 taxed Focus cars have no recorded year of manufacture and are not in the table, so the rows add up to 895,531. A build year's count depends on how many were sold that year as well as how many have lasted.

Year of manufacture Taxed, end of 2025Share of taxed Focus cars
202511,4591.3%
202417,8002.0%
202321,8962.4%
202215,0561.7%
202120,4952.3%
202036,8894.1%
201952,5295.9%
201845,4955.1%
201761,3566.9%
201661,5856.9%
201572,2978.1%
201470,0597.8%
201368,1757.6%
201261,8446.9%
201156,7186.3%
201045,9385.1%
200943,5384.9%
200834,1043.8%
200730,0383.4%
200622,6132.5%
200515,7301.8%
200411,2311.3%
All other build years (twelve years, each under 1%)18,6862.1%

Population source: Department for Transport / DVLA vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026; counts of the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, United Kingdom, cars only, excluding cars recorded with no model name. SortedCars groups DVLA's model name FOCUS under this model. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, DVLA or the Department for Transport.

How the Focus ages

First-time pass rate by vehicle age, Focus vs all cars, 2025.

Ford FocusAll cars
50%60%70%80%90%100%3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Ford Focus, vehicle age 3: 90.1%Ford Focus, vehicle age 4: 88.8%Ford Focus, vehicle age 5: 85.7%Ford Focus, vehicle age 6: 81.5%Ford Focus, vehicle age 7: 81.8%Ford Focus, vehicle age 8: 80.8%Ford Focus, vehicle age 9: 76.9%Ford Focus, vehicle age 10: 72.4%Ford Focus, vehicle age 11: 64.3%Ford Focus, vehicle age 12: 62.2%Ford Focus, vehicle age 13: 61.7%Ford Focus, vehicle age 14: 58.1%Ford Focus, vehicle age 15: 56.6%Ford Focus, vehicle age 16: 55.7%Ford Focus, vehicle age 17: 55.6%Ford Focus, vehicle age 18: 57.5%Ford Focus, vehicle age 19: 58%Ford Focus, vehicle age 20: 54.8%All cars, vehicle age 3: 88.5%All cars, vehicle age 4: 87.2%All cars, vehicle age 5: 86%All cars, vehicle age 6: 83.5%All cars, vehicle age 7: 80.9%All cars, vehicle age 8: 78.2%All cars, vehicle age 9: 74.9%All cars, vehicle age 10: 71.9%All cars, vehicle age 11: 68.6%All cars, vehicle age 12: 65.8%All cars, vehicle age 13: 63.5%All cars, vehicle age 14: 61.2%All cars, vehicle age 15: 59.3%All cars, vehicle age 16: 58.3%All cars, vehicle age 17: 57.2%All cars, vehicle age 18: 57.4%All cars, vehicle age 19: 57%All cars, vehicle age 20: 57.6%All cars 57.6%Ford Focus 54.8%
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Focus testsFocus pass rateAll cars
315,83790.1%88.5%
420,84888.8%87.2%
537,99085.7%86.0%
655,23981.5%83.5%
747,24481.8%80.9%
863,26580.8%78.2%
963,21576.9%74.9%
1074,06572.4%71.9%
1172,08864.3%68.6%
1270,19662.2%65.8%
1364,19761.7%63.5%
1459,18558.1%61.2%
1549,33856.6%59.3%
1648,36555.7%58.3%
1738,68355.6%57.2%
1832,19557.5%57.4%
1922,86458.0%57.0%
2016,28854.8%57.6%

Better or worse than the average car?

The Focus's pass rate minus the all-cars pass rate at each age, in percentage points. Bars above zero: the Focus beats the average car of that age. Below zero: it trails.

Focus aheadFocus behind
-6-3+0+3+6Age 3: +1.6 points vs the average car3Age 4: +1.6 points vs the average carAge 5: -0.3 points vs the average car5Age 6: -2.0 points vs the average carAge 7: +0.9 points vs the average car7Age 8: +2.6 points vs the average carAge 9: +2.0 points vs the average car9Age 10: +0.5 points vs the average carAge 11: -4.3 points vs the average car11Age 12: -3.6 points vs the average carAge 13: -1.8 points vs the average car13Age 14: -3.1 points vs the average carAge 15: -2.7 points vs the average car15Age 16: -2.6 points vs the average carAge 17: -1.6 points vs the average car17Age 18: +0.1 points vs the average carAge 19: +1.0 points vs the average car19Age 20: -2.8 points vs the average car20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)Gap (points)
3+1.6
4+1.6
5-0.3
6-2.0
7+0.9
8+2.6
9+2.0
10+0.5
11-4.3
12-3.6
13-1.8
14-3.1
15-2.7
16-2.6
17-1.6
18+0.1
19+1.0
20-2.8

The Focus fleet on the road, by age

How many took a first MOT in 2025 at each age — the shape of the Focus fleet still in use.

020k40k60k80kAge 3: 15k3Age 4: 20kAge 5: 37k5Age 6: 55kAge 7: 47k7Age 8: 63kAge 9: 63k9Age 10: 74kAge 11: 72k11Age 12: 70kAge 13: 64k13Age 14: 59kAge 15: 49k15Age 16: 48kAge 17: 38k17Age 18: 32kAge 19: 22k19Age 20: 16k20Vehicle age (years)
View this chart as a table
Age (years)First tests
315,837
420,848
537,990
655,239
747,244
863,265
963,215
1074,065
1172,088
1270,196
1364,197
1459,185
1549,338
1648,365
1738,683
1832,195
1922,864
2016,288

What a Focus fails on

Where the failure items land when a Focus fails or needs a fix at test, 2025. Use it as a pre-purchase checklist: these are the areas to look at first.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment32.0%
Suspension19.9%
Tyres14.4%
Brakes10.9%
Visibility6.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks6.3%
Body, chassis, structure5.4%
Steering2.2%

Share of all failure items, 2025 — the 8 biggest categories shown (97.6% of the items); smaller categories are not listed.

The advisories to watch

Where testers most often write "keep an eye on this" for a Focus, 2025 — the faults in the post.

Suspension: 30.7% of advisories30.7%Tyres: 29.9% of advisories29.9%Brakes: 18.7% of advisories18.7%Non-component advisories: 4.9% of advisoriesBody, chassis, structure: 4.5% of advisoriesNoise, emissions and leaks: 3.6% of advisories
SuspensionTyresBrakesNon-component advisoriesBody, chassis, structureNoise, emissions and leaks
View this chart as a table
CategoryShare of advisories
Suspension30.7%
Tyres29.9%
Brakes18.7%
Non-component advisories4.9%
Body, chassis, structure4.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks3.6%

Petrol, diesel or hybrid Focus?

First-time pass rate for the two most-tested Focus fuel types, 2025, against the all-cars average. Fleet ages differ by fuel — newer fleets help the electrified bars.

50%60%70%80%90%100%all cars 72.3%Petrol: 68.9% of 611,867 tests68.9%Petrol611,867 testsDiesel: 66.0% of 274,621 tests66.0%Diesel274,621 tests
View this chart as a table
FuelTestsPass rate
Petrol611,86768.9%
Diesel274,62166.0%

What mileage is normal for a Focus?

Mileage recorded at test by vehicle age, 2025. The line is the typical (median) Focus; the shaded band holds the middle half. A car far outside the band, in either direction, is worth questions the recorded history can answer.

Typical Focus (median)
0k25k50k75k100k125k150k3579111315171920Vehicle age (years)Age 3: typical 23,750 miles (middle half 16,250–31,250)Age 4: typical 31,250 miles (middle half 21,250–43,750)Age 5: typical 38,750 miles (middle half 28,750–51,250)Age 6: typical 46,250 miles (middle half 33,750–61,250)Age 7: typical 51,250 miles (middle half 36,250–66,250)Age 8: typical 61,250 miles (middle half 43,750–78,750)Age 9: typical 68,750 miles (middle half 51,250–88,750)Age 10: typical 78,750 miles (middle half 58,750–98,750)Age 11: typical 83,750 miles (middle half 63,750–106,250)Age 12: typical 91,250 miles (middle half 71,250–116,250)Age 13: typical 96,250 miles (middle half 76,250–121,250)Age 14: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 81,250–126,250)Age 15: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 78,750–128,750)Age 16: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 81,250–128,750)Age 17: typical 106,250 miles (middle half 83,750–131,250)Age 18: typical 106,250 miles (middle half 83,750–128,750)Age 19: typical 106,250 miles (middle half 83,750–128,750)Age 20: typical 103,750 miles (middle half 81,250–128,750)103k mi

Mileage values are midpoints of 2,500-mile bands.

View this chart as a table
Age (years)Lower quarterTypical (median)Upper quarter
316,25023,75031,250
421,25031,25043,750
528,75038,75051,250
633,75046,25061,250
736,25051,25066,250
843,75061,25078,750
951,25068,75088,750
1058,75078,75098,750
1163,75083,750106,250
1271,25091,250116,250
1376,25096,250121,250
1481,250103,750126,250
1578,750103,750128,750
1681,250103,750128,750
1783,750106,250131,250
1883,750106,250128,750
1983,750106,250128,750
2081,250103,750128,750

What fails at each age

The Focus's failure mix by age band, 2025 — each band's top categories at their true share of that band's failure items; the pale remainder is everything else. How the mix shifts with age is the point of the chart.

TyresBrakesNoise, emissions and leaksLamps, reflectors and electrical equipmentVisibilitySuspensionBody, chassis, structureEverything else
View this chart as a table
Age bandCategoryShare of the band's failure items
3-5 yrsTyres43.7%
3-5 yrsBrakes18.9%
3-5 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks10.2%
3-5 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment9.3%
3-5 yrsVisibility6.0%
3-5 yrsEverything else11.9%
6-9 yrsTyres31.4%
6-9 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment19.9%
6-9 yrsBrakes17.1%
6-9 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks10.9%
6-9 yrsSuspension7.0%
6-9 yrsEverything else13.7%
10-13 yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment27.2%
10-13 yrsSuspension20.4%
10-13 yrsTyres18.0%
10-13 yrsBrakes13.4%
10-13 yrsNoise, emissions and leaks7.4%
10-13 yrsEverything else13.6%
14+ yrsSuspension28.1%
14+ yrsLamps, reflectors and electrical equipment26.5%
14+ yrsBrakes10.6%
14+ yrsTyres10.6%
14+ yrsBody, chassis, structure7.8%
14+ yrsEverything else16.4%

More vehicles we've checked

How these figures are computed. Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset (every MOT test in Great Britain — 2025 for single-year figures; trend figures state their span, currently 2023–2025). Where a figure comes from a sample or uses banded values (mileage is banded to 2,500 miles), the page says so beside the figure. Test class 4 only, first tests only — retests are excluded. Class 4 is the car MOT class and also covers car-derived vans, pickups and motorhomes tested to the same standard; where this page says "cars" it means class 4. Pass rate = passes ÷ (passes + failures + pass-after-rectification): a vehicle that failed and was fixed during the visit counts as a fail. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Alias spellings of a make in the DVSA file are counted under one make name, and all trims and variants of a model are grouped under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables. The taxed and SORN counts on this page are the one exception: they are not computed from MOT records but taken from the Department for Transport's vehicle licensing statistics (DfT/DVLA table VEH0124, updated 15 July 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0), which count the cars on DVLA's register that were taxed or on SORN at the end of each year shown, UK-wide, cars only. They describe a model as a whole, grouped under SortedCars' model names, and say nothing about any one car. “Dangerous” is DVSA's statutory defect category (in force since May 2018): a defect posing an immediate risk to road safety — driving the vehicle before repair is an offence. What these figures are for. These statistics are general information about groups of vehicles. They are not advice, a valuation or a recommendation to buy, avoid or price any particular vehicle, and no decision about one car should rest on them alone — check the car itself and its own records. We take care over the calculations, but we cannot guarantee they are complete, current or free of error, and we accept no liability for loss arising from reliance on them. This does not limit any liability that cannot lawfully be limited — see our Terms & Conditions. If you believe any figure on this page is inaccurate, contact us. SortedCars is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the DVSA or DVLA. DVSA publishes the raw test records; the statistics on this page are SortedCars' own calculations from them. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.