2019 Ford Focus MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 81.5% of Ford Focus cars first used in 2019 passed their MOT first time, against 83.5% for all cars first used in 2019. Across 166,963 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 2019 (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
81.5%
of 55,239 first tests; all cars first used in 2019: 83.5%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
166,963
first tests, 2023–2025; 55,239 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
47.5%
of 55,239 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
46,000
middle half: 33,500–60,500 miles; all cars first used in 2019: 44,000

How the 2019 Ford Focus MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Focus cars first used in 2019 against all cars first used in 2019 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Focus figure was 2.0 points lower.

2019 FocusAll cars first used in 2019
80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2019, test year 2021: 89.2%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2022: 87.8%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2023: 86.2%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2024: 84.9%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2025: 83.5%2019 Focus, test year 2021: 88.3%2019 Focus, test year 2022: 87.8%2019 Focus, test year 2023: 85.6%2019 Focus, test year 2024: 83.7%2019 Focus, test year 2025: 81.5%83.5%81.5%
View this chart as a table
Test year2019 FocusAll cars first used 2019Focus first tests
202188.3%89.2%2,691
202287.8%87.8%57,023
202385.6%86.2%56,187
202483.7%84.9%55,537
202581.5%83.5%55,239

Common 2019 Ford Focus MOT failures

Share of the 27,334 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%.

Tyres38.5%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment22.0%
Brakes18.9%
Noise, emissions and leaks15.9%
Visibility11.6%
Suspension5.9%
Steering5.4%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems2.3%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick14.6%3,980
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm14.5%3,968
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords9.8%2,668
Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed7.5%2,063
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam5.0%1,375

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

What to check on a 2019 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 2019 Ford Focus MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2019 Focus cars, as a share of all 166,963 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge16.6%27,701
Brake pads: wearing thin14.6%24,382
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.6%14,328
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing6.5%10,934
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.5%4,236

Questions about the 2019 Ford Focus MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2019 Ford Focus?

In 2025, 81.5% of Focus cars first used in 2019 passed their MOT first time, against 83.5% for all cars first used in 2019. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2019 Focus most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 38.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (22.0%) and brakes (18.9%). The single most common item was “Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick” (14.6%).

How often does a 2019 Ford Focus fail its MOT?

In 2025, 18.5% of first tests on Focus cars first used in 2019 did not pass first time: 15.2% failed, and a further 3.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 27,334 of 166,963 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2019 Ford Focus MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 16.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (14.6%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (8.6%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (6.5%) and “Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt” (2.5%).

Is a 2019 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 88.3% in 2021 to 81.5% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2019

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

2019 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2019 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2019 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT statistics · 2019 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2019 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. “2019 Focus” means a Ford Focus whose date of first use falls in 2019 (68, 19 and 69 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 2019, 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.