2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Ford Focus MOT pass rate and common faults

19,728 MOT tests in 2024. 54.0% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time54.0%
Failed or needed repairs46.0%
Typical mileage at test104,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 19,728 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.3%
  2. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.8%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.7%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.6%
    1,185 marked dangerous
  5. Position lamp: not working3.5%
  6. Stop lamp: not working3.5%
  7. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength3.0%
  8. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.9%
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.9%
  10. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics30.8%
  2. Suspension28.4%
  3. Brakes13.8%
  4. Tyres9.8%
  5. Emissions & leaks8.7%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.2%
  7. Body & chassis8.1%
  8. Steering6.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.2%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened14.9%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.4%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine13.4%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Ford Focus?

In 2024, 54.0% of 2005 Ford Focus cars passed their MOT first time, across 19,728 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Ford Focus?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2005 Ford Focus reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).