1998 Ford Focus — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

48.0%

Latest Pass Rate

41,025

Total Tests (All Years)

98,885 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Ford Focus as it ages.

11 yrs46.6%

→ ↓3.2%

12 yrs43.4%

→ ↓3.4%

13 yrs40.0%

→ ↓1.5%

14 yrs38.5%

→ ↓0.1%

15 yrs38.4%

→ ↑0.7%

16 yrs39.1%

→ ↑2.0%

17 yrs41.1%

→ ↑1.9%

18 yrs43.0%

→ ↓1.9%

19 yrs41.1%

→ ↑4.3%

20 yrs45.4%

→ ↑0.1%

21 yrs45.5%

→ ↑0.7%

22 yrs46.2%

→ ↓2.0%

23 yrs44.2%

→ ↑0.6%

24 yrs44.8%

→ ↑1.6%

25 yrs46.4%

→ ↑1.6%

26 yrs48.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	46.6%	7,358
12 yrs	43.4%	6,804
13 yrs	40.0%	6,395
14 yrs	38.5%	5,537
15 yrs	38.4%	4,481
16 yrs	39.1%	3,387
17 yrs	41.1%	2,504
18 yrs	43.0%	1,754
19 yrs	41.1%	1,100
20 yrs	45.4%	502
21 yrs	45.5%	356
22 yrs	46.2%	247
23 yrs	44.2%	217
24 yrs	44.8%	125
25 yrs	46.4%	110
26 yrs	48.0%	148

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Ford Focus pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (26 yrs)	48%	148
2023 (25 yrs)	46.4%	110
2022 (24 yrs)	44.8%	125
2021 (23 yrs)	44.2%	217
2020 (22 yrs)	46.2%	247
2019 (21 yrs)	45.5%	356
2018 (20 yrs)	45.4%	502
2017 (19 yrs)	41.1%	1,100
2016 (18 yrs)	43%	1,754
2015 (17 yrs)	41.1%	2,504
2014 (16 yrs)	39.1%	3,387
2013 (15 yrs)	38.4%	4,481
2012 (14 yrs)	38.5%	5,537
2011 (13 yrs)	40%	6,395
2010 (12 yrs)	43.4%	6,804
2009 (11 yrs)	46.6%	7,358

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.6%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 7,358Avg Mileage 89,270Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.2%

2010High Fail Rate

43.4%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 6,804Avg Mileage 95,125Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.3%

2011High Fail Rate

40.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 6,395Avg Mileage 99,890Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.9%

2012High Fail Rate

38.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 5,537Avg Mileage 104,872Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.1%

2013High Fail Rate

38.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 4,481Avg Mileage 107,194Top Failure Suspension — 101.0%

2014High Fail Rate

39.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 3,387Avg Mileage 109,463Top Failure Suspension — 102.7%

2015High Fail Rate

41.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 2,504Avg Mileage 110,431Top Failure Suspension — 99.6%

2016High Fail Rate

43.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,754Avg Mileage 110,943Top Failure Suspension — 89.9%

2017High Fail Rate

41.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,100Avg Mileage 110,459Top Failure Suspension — 102.8%

2018High Fail Rate

45.4%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 502Avg Mileage 107,583Top Failure Suspension — 105.0%

2019High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 356Avg Mileage 107,806Top Failure Suspension — 103.7%

2020High Fail Rate

46.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 247Avg Mileage 110,648Top Failure Suspension — 114.2%

2021High Fail Rate

44.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 217Avg Mileage 106,678Top Failure Suspension — 119.4%

2022High Fail Rate

44.8%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 125Avg Mileage 104,762Top Failure Suspension — 124.0%

2023High Fail Rate

46.4%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 110Avg Mileage 105,140Top Failure Suspension — 127.3%

2024High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 148Avg Mileage 98,885Top Failure Suspension — 98.0%

MOT results for 1998 Ford Focus by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	46.6%	7,358	89,270	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.2%
2010	12	43.4%	6,804	95,125	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.3%
2011	13	40.0%	6,395	99,890	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.9%
2012	14	38.5%	5,537	104,872	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.1%
2013	15	38.4%	4,481	107,194	Suspension — 101.0%
2014	16	39.1%	3,387	109,463	Suspension — 102.7%
2015	17	41.1%	2,504	110,431	Suspension — 99.6%
2016	18	43.0%	1,754	110,943	Suspension — 89.9%
2017	19	41.1%	1,100	110,459	Suspension — 102.8%
2018	20	45.4%	502	107,583	Suspension — 105.0%
2019	21	45.5%	356	107,806	Suspension — 103.7%
2020	22	46.2%	247	110,648	Suspension — 114.2%
2021	23	44.2%	217	106,678	Suspension — 119.4%
2022	24	44.8%	125	104,762	Suspension — 124.0%
2023	25	46.4%	110	105,140	Suspension — 127.3%
2024	26	48.0%	148	98,885	Suspension — 98.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Ford Focus, with age trends.

Suspension

88.8%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

65.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

59.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

57.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

34.9%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	25.6% (11 yrs)	98.0% (26 yrs)	+72.4%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	24.8% (11 yrs)	59.5% (26 yrs)	+34.7%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	19.9% (11 yrs)	32.4% (26 yrs)	+12.5%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Ford Focus page →

About This Data

This page shows how Ford Focus cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 41,025 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.