2017 Ford Focus MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 80.8% of Ford Focus cars first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. Across 191,353 Focus first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, lamps and electrical equipment and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford Focus cars first used in 2017 (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
80.8%
of 63,265 first tests; all cars first used in 2017: 78.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
191,353
first tests, 2023–2025; 63,265 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
47.6%
of 63,265 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
60,500
middle half: 44,500–79,000 miles; all cars first used in 2017: 60,000

How the 2017 Ford Focus MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Focus cars first used in 2017 against all cars first used in 2017 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Focus figure was 2.6 points higher.

2017 FocusAll cars first used in 2017
70%80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2017, test year 2021: 85.9%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2022: 83.9%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2023: 81.7%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2024: 79.8%All cars first used in 2017, test year 2025: 78.2%2017 Focus, test year 2021: 88%2017 Focus, test year 2022: 86.4%2017 Focus, test year 2023: 84%2017 Focus, test year 2024: 82.5%2017 Focus, test year 2025: 80.8%80.8%78.2%
View this chart as a table
Test year2017 FocusAll cars first used 2017Focus first tests
202188.0%85.9%65,839
202286.4%83.9%65,066
202384.0%81.7%64,214
202482.5%79.8%63,874
202580.8%78.2%63,265

Common 2017 Ford Focus MOT failures

Share of the 33,627 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%.

Tyres37.4%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment36.0%
Brakes16.2%
Visibility12.1%
Noise, emissions and leaks11.5%
Suspension7.2%
Body, chassis, structure3.0%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm12.9%4,326
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.1%3,403
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed8.6%2,905
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords7.9%2,647
Side repeaters: not working6.2%2,094

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

What to check on a 2017 Ford Focus before buying

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

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.

Common 2017 Ford Focus MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2017 Focus cars, as a share of all 191,353 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge17.1%32,789
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing8.3%15,907
Brake pads: wearing thin8.1%15,580
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.0%7,738
Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement3.0%5,748

Questions about the 2017 Ford Focus MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2017 Ford Focus?

In 2025, 80.8% of Focus cars first used in 2017 passed their MOT first time, against 78.2% for all cars first used in 2017. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2017 Focus most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 37.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (36.0%) and brakes (16.2%). The single most common item was “Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm” (12.9%).

How often does a 2017 Ford Focus fail its MOT?

In 2025, 19.2% of first tests on Focus cars first used in 2017 did not pass first time: 14.7% failed, and a further 4.5% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 33,627 of 191,353 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2017 Ford Focus MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 17.1% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (8.3%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (8.1%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (4.0%) and “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (3.0%).

Is a 2017 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 88.0% in 2021 to 80.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2017

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

2017 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2017 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2017 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics · 2017 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2017 Vauxhall Astra MOT statistics

How the 2017 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. “2017 Focus” means a Ford Focus whose date of first use falls in 2017 (66, 17 and 67 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 2017, 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. 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.