2013 Ford Focus MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 62.2% of Ford Focus cars first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. Across 219,039 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 2013 (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
62.2%
of 70,196 first tests; all cars first used in 2013: 65.8%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
219,039
first tests, 2023–2025; 70,196 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
28.5%
of 70,196 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
91,000
middle half: 70,500–115,500 miles; all cars first used in 2013: 86,500

How the 2013 Ford Focus MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Focus cars first used in 2013 against all cars first used in 2013 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Focus figure was 3.6 points lower.

2013 FocusAll cars first used in 2013
60%70%80%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2013, test year 2021: 72.1%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2022: 70.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2023: 68.3%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2024: 66.8%All cars first used in 2013, test year 2025: 65.8%2013 Focus, test year 2021: 66.4%2013 Focus, test year 2022: 65.9%2013 Focus, test year 2023: 64%2013 Focus, test year 2024: 64%2013 Focus, test year 2025: 62.2%65.8%62.2%
View this chart as a table
Test year2013 FocusAll cars first used 2013Focus first tests
202166.4%72.1%77,185
202265.9%70.3%76,767
202364.0%68.3%75,601
202464.0%66.8%73,242
202562.2%65.8%70,196

Common 2013 Ford Focus MOT failures

Share of the 80,059 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 equipment50.9%
Suspension36.3%
Tyres20.1%
Brakes14.6%
Visibility12.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks11.0%
Body, chassis, structure5.9%
Steering2.6%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Coil spring: fractured or broken20.5%16,436
Position lamp: not working14.4%11,521
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect10.3%8,225
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm8.9%7,126
Stop lamp: not working8.5%6,782

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
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 2013 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 2013 Ford Focus MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2013 Focus cars, as a share of all 219,039 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge19.9%43,480
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing10.3%22,463
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened9.5%20,763
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement8.1%17,741
Brake pads: wearing thin7.0%15,324

Questions about the 2013 Ford Focus MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2013 Ford Focus?

In 2025, 62.2% of Focus cars first used in 2013 passed their MOT first time, against 65.8% for all cars first used in 2013. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2013 Focus most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 50.9% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (36.3%) and tyres (20.1%). The single most common item was “Coil spring: fractured or broken” (20.5%).

How often does a 2013 Ford Focus fail its MOT?

In 2025, 37.8% of first tests on Focus cars first used in 2013 did not pass first time: 29.5% failed, and a further 8.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 80,059 of 219,039 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2013 Ford Focus MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 19.9% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (10.3%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (9.5%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (8.1%) and “Brake pads: wearing thin” (7.0%).

Is a 2013 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 66.4% in 2021 to 62.2% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2013

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

2013 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2013 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics · 2013 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2013 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2013 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. “2013 Focus” means a Ford Focus whose date of first use falls in 2013 (62, 13 and 63 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 2013, 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.