1999 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,084 MOT tests analysed for the 1999 Ford Focus, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 67.8% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (72.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.1% in the 150k+ group versus 13.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 2,464 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.5% | 2,426 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.6% | 1,514 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 1,159 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 834 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 765 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,200 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,191 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 992 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 772 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 769 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 738 |
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 | 47.2% | 6,172 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.1% | 4,981 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.8% | 3,775 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.3% | 2,654 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 2,569 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.6% | 2,437 |
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 | 185 | 13.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,283 | 24.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,035 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 3,739 | 34.0% |
| 120-150k | 2,688 | 35.8% |
| 150k+ | 2,132 | 35.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,698 | 32.2% |
| Diesel | 386 | 31.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,558 | 33.3% |
| 2022 | 3,270 | 32.0% |
| 2023 | 2,299 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 1,724 | 32.4% |
| 2025 | 1,233 | 30.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Focus
Before buying a 1999 Ford Focus, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 18.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (18.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (18.5% 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 (11.6% 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 1999 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 13,084 1999 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.8% of tests, followed by suspension (18.5%).
Does the 1999 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,084 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.