Reliability report
Ford Focus reliability and common faults
Based on 1,300,560 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
25.8%
fail rate · average 25.4%
about average
850,279 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
52.9%
with defects · average 51.0%
worse than average
345,820 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
44.0%
first-time pass · average 48.6%
worse than average
104,461 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Ford Focus
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Wheelsconfirmed in 2 countries
Plates and identificationconfirmed in 2 countries
Driving controls
Suspension
Lights and electricsconfirmed in 2 countries
Tyresconfirmed in 2 countries
Exhaust and emissions
Body and structure
Brakes
Visibility
Steering
Seat belts and airbags
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre insufficient tread
- 2Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 3Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 4Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 5Sidelight not working (properly)
- 6Excessive leakage of other fluids
- 7Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 8Turn signal color incorrect/not allowed
- 9Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 10Spring broken or cracked
- 11Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 12Tyre damaged
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 11.3% avg 9.9% | 29.6% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 14.7% avg 15.3% | 40.0% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 22.5% avg 22.9% | 49.0% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 31.3% avg 30.3% | 56.6% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 34.3% avg 34.6% | 64.3% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 37.6% avg 31.4% | 69.5% avg 68.4% |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Focus | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87.9% | 86.7% | 116 |
| 2020 | 84.1% | 78.6% | 170 |
| 2019 | 80.8% | 83.2% | 483 |
| 2018 | 70.2% | 79.5% | 717 |
| 2017 | 71.9% | 76.6% | 1,137 |
| 2016 | 67.1% | 72.8% | 1,491 |
| 2015 | 67.9% | 71.1% | 2,018 |
| 2014 | 63.3% | 68.0% | 1,905 |
| 2013 | 58.3% | 65.9% | 2,169 |
| 2012 | 57.3% | 63.7% | 2,925 |
| 2011 | 52.8% | 61.2% | 3,121 |
| 2010 | 45.0% | 57.3% | 1,851 |
| 2009 | 42.0% | 54.5% | 2,893 |
| 2008 | 46.4% | 52.4% | 5,888 |
| 2007 | 47.3% | 50.6% | 7,668 |
Ford Focus – FAQs
How reliable is the Ford Focus?+
In the UK the Ford Focus fails 25.8% of MOT tests, against an average of 25.4% for cars of the same age – about average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 52.9% of APK inspections (average there 51.0%) – worse than average. In Lithuania 44.0% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 48.6%) – worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Ford Focus?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: wheels, suspension, lights and electrics, tyres.
What should I check when buying a used Ford Focus?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Low beam incorrectly adjusted; Sidelight not working (properly). Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Ford models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).