2006 Ford Focus MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 58.0% of Ford Focus cars first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. Across 87,729 Focus first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, suspension and tyres.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford Focus cars first used in 2006 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
58.0%
of 22,864 first tests; all cars first used in 2006: 57.0%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
87,729
first tests, 2023–2025; 22,864 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
19.0%
of 22,864 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
106,000
middle half: 83,500–129,000 miles; all cars first used in 2006: 106,500

How the 2006 Ford Focus MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Focus cars first used in 2006 against all cars first used in 2006 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Focus figure was 1.0 points higher.

2006 FocusAll cars first used in 2006
50%60%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2006, test year 2021: 55.5%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2022: 56%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2023: 56.2%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2024: 56.1%All cars first used in 2006, test year 2025: 57%2006 Focus, test year 2021: 56.9%2006 Focus, test year 2022: 57%2006 Focus, test year 2023: 57.2%2006 Focus, test year 2024: 56.8%2006 Focus, test year 2025: 58%58%57%
View this chart as a table
Test year2006 FocusAll cars first used 2006Focus first tests
202156.9%55.5%52,033
202257.0%56.0%43,380
202357.2%56.2%35,950
202456.8%56.1%28,915
202558.0%57.0%22,864

Common 2006 Ford Focus MOT failures

Share of the 37,465 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment49.7%
Suspension44.1%
Tyres19.8%
Brakes18.1%
Body, chassis, structure16.6%
Visibility15.4%
Noise, emissions and leaks14.3%
Steering3.9%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Stop lamp: not working12.4%4,645
Position lamp: not working12.2%4,585
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.9%4,081
Coil spring: fractured or broken10.0%3,735
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm8.4%3,140

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

Typical repair costs for common MOT failures

Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Focus in particular, and not a quote.

Failure itemTypical jobTypical UK priceUsual range
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively wornSuspension arm replacement£150£120–£180
Coil spring: fractured or brokenCoil spring replacement£248£175–£400

From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.

What to check on a 2006 Ford Focus before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
  3. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.

Common 2006 Ford Focus MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2006 Focus cars, as a share of all 87,729 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge21.4%18,740
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement15.5%13,638
Coil spring: corroded12.3%10,754
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened11.5%10,087
Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive11.2%9,856

Questions about the 2006 Ford Focus MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2006 Ford Focus?

In 2025, 58.0% of Focus cars first used in 2006 passed their MOT first time, against 57.0% for all cars first used in 2006. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2006 Focus most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 49.7% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (44.1%) and tyres (19.8%). The single most common item was “Stop lamp: not working” (12.4%).

How often does a 2006 Ford Focus fail its MOT?

In 2025, 42.0% of first tests on Focus cars first used in 2006 did not pass first time: 32.9% failed, and a further 9.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 37,465 of 87,729 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2006 Ford Focus MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 21.4% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (15.5%), “Coil spring: corroded” (12.3%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (11.5%) and “Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive” (11.2%).

Is a 2006 Ford Focus reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 56.9% in 2021 to 58.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2006

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2006 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2006 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2006 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2006 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2006 Volkswagen Polo MOT statistics

How the 2006 Ford Focus MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2006 Focus” means a Ford Focus whose date of first use falls in 2006 (55, 06 and 56 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2006, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Repair prices are typical UK prices for the job from published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026 — not for this model, and not a quote. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.