Comparison · family hatchbacks

Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Golf: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 99 for the Ford Focus, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 1,769,100 real MOT tests in 2024.

Ford Focus

99About average

MOT tests893,948

Volkswagen Golf

106Above average

MOT tests875,152

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at test	Ford Focus	Volkswagen Golf
3–5 years	100About average	104Above average
6–9 years	103Above average	109Well above average
10–14 years	96Below average	109Well above average
15+ years	97Below average	101About average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Ford Focus	Volkswagen Golf
2021	88.3%	90.1%
2020	87.8%	91.0%
2019	83.7%	88.7%
2018	83.4%	87.0%
2017	82.5%	85.8%
2016	79.4%	85.0%
2015	75.6%	82.7%
2014	67.4%	79.4%
2013	63.9%	76.3%
2012	63.3%	68.4%
2011	59.1%	64.8%
2010	57.2%	62.4%
2009	56.8%	62.5%
2008	55.6%	59.7%
2007	57.4%	57.6%
2006	57.0%	54.7%
2005	54.0%	54.5%
2004	52.0%	51.0%
2003	52.5%	56.9%
2002	53.1%	56.8%
2001	53.4%	55.7%
2000	52.8%	56.3%
1999	50.3%	56.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Ford Focus	Volkswagen Golf
Lights & electrics	21.0	11.0
Suspension	12.6	11.3
Brakes	7.5	9.9
Tyres	8.8	7.5
Emissions & leaks	4.6	4.2
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	4.6	3.4
Body & chassis	3.6	4.2
Steering	1.5	1.0

Ford Focus: top failures

Position lamp: not working3.4%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.8%
Coil spring: fractured or broken2.7%
Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.0%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.8%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.5%

Volkswagen Golf: top failures

Coil spring: fractured or broken2.4%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.3%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.7%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.6%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.5%
Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.5%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Ford Focus or the Volkswagen Golf?

The Volkswagen Golf does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 99 for the Ford Focus, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf can be compared?

Both were tested for 23 registration years (1999–2021). The Ford Focus had the higher pass rate in 2 of them and the Volkswagen Golf in 21.

What fails most on each?

Ford Focus: position lamp: not working; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Volkswagen Golf: coil spring: fractured or broken; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.