1998 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Ford Focus passed 67.2% of its 847 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.7 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (19.8%) and suspension (18.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 97 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.3% versus 25.6%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 54.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.8% in 2021 to 28.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 168 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.1% | 153 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.0% | 93 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.9% | 67 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 60 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.5% | 47 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 97 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 88 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 54 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 54 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 53 |
| 6 | Wipers | 46 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 54.7% | 463 |
| 2 | Brakes | 41.1% | 348 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.0% | 254 |
| 4 | Other defects | 25.5% | 216 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.2% | 163 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 159 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 82 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 210 | 32.4% |
| 90-120k | 255 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 162 | 37.6% |
| 150k+ | 124 | 32.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 308 | 32.8% |
| 2022 | 203 | 34.0% |
| 2023 | 152 | 33.6% |
| 2024 | 113 | 32.7% |
| 2025 | 71 | 28.2% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Focus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (19.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (11.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 1998 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
67.2% of the 847 1998 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.8% of tests, followed by suspension (18.1%).
Does the 1998 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.6% in the 30-60k band to 32.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 847 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.