2021 Ford Focus Mhev — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 8,403 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Ford Focus Mhev, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 93.0% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 12.1% in the 90-120k group versus 6.2% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.6% | 386 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 183 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 102 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 70 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 24 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 173 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 140 |
| 3 | Washers | 79 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 53 |
| 5 | Wipers | 38 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 30 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 23.1% | 1,942 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 1,119 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 505 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.1% | 95 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 71 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.6% | 54 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 5,460 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,640 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 263 | 11.4% |
| 90-120k | 33 | 12.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 8,304 | 6.9% |
| Hybrid | 99 | 10.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 269 | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 4,081 | 7.1% |
| 2025 | 4,049 | 7.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Focus Mhev
Before buying a 2021 Ford Focus Mhev, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.6% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.2% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Ford Focus Mhevs pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 8,403 2021 Ford Focus Mhev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford Focus Mhev?
Tyres, recorded in 4.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.2%).
Does the 2021 Focus Mhev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 12.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,403 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.