Ford Focus Zetec Auto MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,389 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 17.0%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Ford Focus Zetec Auto MOT Reliability Overview
The Ford Focus Zetec Auto is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,389 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.0% and a failure rate of 17.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Ford Focus Zetec Auto earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Ford Focus Zetec Auto presents for MOT with approximately 28,939 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2012 models achieve the highest pass rate at 90.3%, while 2002 models have the lowest at 54.7%. This 35.6 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Ford Focus Zetec Auto is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 12.9% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Tyres at 8.1%. Brakes rounds out the top three at 7.2%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 15.6% | 216 |
| 2 | Tyres | 9.6% | 134 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 133 |
| 4 | Driver's View Of The Road | 4.2% | 58 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.6% | 50 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 1.1% | 15 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.9% | 12 |
| 8 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.8% | 11 |
| 9 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.4% | 6 |
| 10 | Body, Structure And General Items | 0.3% | 4 |
| 11 | Road Wheels | 0.1% | 2 |
| 12 | Items Not Tested | 0.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 28,939 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 5.37 | 15.6% | 216 |
| Tyres | 3.33 | 9.6% | 134 |
| Brakes | 3.31 | 9.6% | 133 |
| Visibility | 1.44 | 4.2% | 58 |
| Suspension | 1.24 | 3.6% | 50 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.37 | 1.1% | 15 |
| Steering | 0.30 | 0.9% | 12 |
| Seat Belts | 0.27 | 0.8% | 11 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.15 | 0.4% | 6 |
| Body & Structure | 0.10 | 0.3% | 4 |
| Wheels | 0.05 | 0.1% | 2 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.02 | 0.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Ford Focus Zetec Auto has 28,939 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Ford Focus Zetec Auto has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.87% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Ford Focus Zetec Auto MOT Data
The Ford Focus Zetec Auto is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,389 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 7 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.0% and a failure rate of 17.0%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Ford Focus Zetec Auto owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and tyres for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Focus Zetec Auto is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.9% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 12.9% of MOT failures on the Ford Focus Zetec Auto. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Tyres — 8.1% of failures
Tyres issues account for 8.1% of MOT failures on the Ford Focus Zetec Auto. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Brakes — 7.2% of failures
Brakes issues account for 7.2% of MOT failures on the Ford Focus Zetec Auto. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Focus Zetec Auto?
Based on 1,389 MOT tests in our database, the Ford Focus Zetec Auto has an overall pass rate of 83.0% (17.0% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Focus Zetec Auto?
The top 3 reasons a Ford Focus Zetec Auto fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (12.9%), 2. Tyres (8.1%), 3. Brakes (7.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Ford Focus Zetec Auto reliable?
With a 17.0% MOT failure rate, the Focus Zetec Auto is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Ford Focus Zetec Auto?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (12.9%); Tyres (8.1%); Brakes (7.2%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.