2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Ford Focus MOT pass rate and common faults

64,975 MOT tests in 2024. 63.3% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

98About average
Passed first time63.3%
Failed or needed repairs36.7%
Typical mileage at test92,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 64,975 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.3%
  2. Position lamp: not working4.6%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%
    3,161 marked dangerous
  4. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.7%
  5. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.7%
  6. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%
    1,520 marked dangerous
  7. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.8%
    1,652 marked dangerous
  8. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.6%
  9. Stop lamp: not working1.6%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics25.1%
  2. Suspension15.3%
  3. Tyres8.7%
  4. Brakes8.3%
  5. Body & chassis4.9%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.8%
  7. Emissions & leaks4.7%
  8. Steering1.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.9%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn13.4%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.4%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.0%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. 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 2012 Ford Focus?

In 2024, 63.3% of 2012 Ford Focus cars passed their MOT first time, across 64,975 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Ford Focus?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; position lamp: not working; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2012 Ford Focus reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 98, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).