2018 Ford Focus MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 81.8% of Ford Focus cars first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 143,025 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 2018 (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
81.8%
of 47,244 first tests; all cars first used in 2018: 80.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
143,025
first tests, 2023–2025; 47,244 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
48.8%
of 47,244 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
51,000
middle half: 37,500–67,000 miles; all cars first used in 2018: 52,000

How the 2018 Ford Focus MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Focus cars first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Focus figure was in line with the all-cars figure.

2018 FocusAll cars first used in 2018
80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2018, test year 2021: 87.6%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2022: 86.3%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2023: 84.2%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2024: 82.5%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2025: 80.9%2018 Focus, test year 2021: 89.2%2018 Focus, test year 2022: 87.5%2018 Focus, test year 2023: 85.2%2018 Focus, test year 2024: 83.4%2018 Focus, test year 2025: 81.8%81.8%80.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2018 FocusAll cars first used 2018Focus first tests
202189.2%87.6%49,651
202287.5%86.3%48,504
202385.2%84.2%48,005
202483.4%82.5%47,776
202581.8%80.9%47,244

Common 2018 Ford Focus MOT failures

Share of the 23,678 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%.

Tyres37.2%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment33.5%
Brakes17.5%
Visibility12.0%
Noise, emissions and leaks11.1%
Suspension4.9%
Steering2.0%
Body, chassis, structure2.0%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm13.4%3,169
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick13.2%3,117
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords8.4%1,979
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed8.2%1,944
Side repeaters: not working6.3%1,486

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

What to check on a 2018 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 2018 Ford Focus MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Focus cars, as a share of all 143,025 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.7%23,850
Brake pads: wearing thin11.1%15,886
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing8.5%12,098
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.7%6,788
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.5%3,631

Questions about the 2018 Ford Focus MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Ford Focus?

In 2025, 81.8% of Focus cars first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2018 Focus most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 37.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (33.5%) and brakes (17.5%). The single most common item was “Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm” (13.4%).

How often does a 2018 Ford Focus fail its MOT?

In 2025, 18.2% of first tests on Focus cars first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 14.1% failed, and a further 4.1% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 23,678 of 143,025 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2018 Ford Focus MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 16.7% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (11.1%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (8.5%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (4.7%) and “Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt” (2.5%).

Is a 2018 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 89.2% in 2021 to 81.8% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2018

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

2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics · 2018 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2018 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. “2018 Focus” means a Ford Focus whose date of first use falls in 2018 (67, 18 and 68 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 2018, 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.