Ford Focus Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Ford Focus vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 77% MOT pass rate
  • 15,415 Focuss checked
  • 18.1% had outstanding finance

Ford Focus reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Ford Focus history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Ford Focus car check:

Of the 72 Ford Focus vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 18.1% had outstanding finance recorded and 9.7% an insurance write-off record.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a Focus by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Ford Focus MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 14,754 Ford Focus vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 77%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 7,300typical miles a year
  • 4.5%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 189,644MOT tests analysed
  • 2009–2015built (middle half)
  • 66%petrol; 34% diesel

Ford Focus common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Ford Focus, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the Focus's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 19 Ford Focus MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
  2. Position lamp not working2.1%
  3. Coil spring fractured or broken2.1%
  4. Stop lamp not working1.4%
  5. Headlamp not working on dipped beam1.4%
  6. Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.3%
  7. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.2%
  8. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.2%
  9. Headlamp aim too low1.2%
  10. Tyre has ply or cords exposed1.0%
Show all 19
  1. Headlamp aim too high1.0%
  2. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively0.9%
  3. Direction indicator incorrect colour0.7%
  4. Parking brake efficiency below requirements0.6%
  5. Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.6%
  6. Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords0.6%
  7. Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect0.6%
  8. Coil spring broken0.5%
  9. Registration plate lamp not working0.5%

Top 20 Ford Focus MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge9.2%
  2. Brake pad wearing thin5.9%
  3. Tyre worn close to the legal limit5.0%
  4. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened4.9%
  5. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing2.9%
  6. Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.4%
  7. Coil spring corroded2.3%
  8. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread2.3%
  9. Oil leak, but not excessive2.3%
  10. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement2.2%
Show all 20
  1. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.7%
  2. Direction indicator slightly discoloured1.6%
  3. Nail in tyre1.4%
  4. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.3%
  5. Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement1.0%
  6. Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view1.0%
  7. Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play0.9%
  8. Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated0.9%
  9. Exhaust mounting defective0.8%
  10. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil0.8%
  • Lights and indicators: 48% of failed tests
  • Suspension: 29% of failed tests
  • Tyres: 25% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 14% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 13% of failed tests
  • Tyres advisory: 27% of tests
  • Brakes advisory: 17% of tests
  • Suspension advisory: 16% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 14,754 Ford Focus vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since March 2023 (189,644 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Ford Focus versions

Every Ford Focus version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "Focus" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
Focus (no version recorded) 14,311 77% Lights and indicators
Focus C-MAX
  • Focus C-MAX: 182
  • and 1 more
 183 – –
Focus ST-Line
  • Focus ST-Line X Edition Mhev: 47
  • Focus ST-Line Edition Mhev: 21
  • Focus ST-Line X Mhev Auto: 5
  • and 8 more
 86 – –
Focus ST
  • Focus ST: 47
  • Focus ST Ecoblue: 14
  • and 1 more
 62 – –
Focus Titanium
  • Focus Titanium Edition Mhev: 28
  • Focus Titanium X Edition Mhev: 8
  • and 9 more
 47 – –
Focus Active
  • Focus Active X Edition Mhev: 11
  • Focus Active Edition Mhev: 10
  • Focus Active X Vignale Eblue A: 6
  • and 5 more
 36 – –
Focus Zetec 16 – –

Key history checks before buying a used Ford Focus

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Ford on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the Focus. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Ford Focus

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Ford Focus car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Ford Focus you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a Focus by reg → See a sample report

Ford Focus MOT questions

How do I check a used Ford Focus for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 72 Ford Focus vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 18.1% had outstanding finance recorded and 9.7% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a Ford Focus car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Ford Focus are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Ford Focus?

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm: found at 2.6% of the Ford Focus MOT tests we analysed. By area, lights and indicators items appear in 48% of failed tests.

What is the Ford Focus MOT pass rate?

77% of 189,644 MOT tests on 14,754 Ford Focus vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Ford Focus?

Going by its MOT records, the Ford Focus's most common failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.6% of tests); position lamp not working (2.1% of tests); coil spring fractured or broken (2.1% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Ford Focus?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 9.2% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Ford Focus typically driven?

About 7,300 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 4.5% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Ford car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Ford Focus