2000 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 24,127 MOT tests analysed for the 2000 Ford Focus, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 68.9% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (71.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 37.0% in the 150k+ group versus 20.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.0% | 4,340 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 17.3% | 4,167 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.0% | 2,906 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.5% | 1,815 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 1,549 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.1% | 1,471 |
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 | 2,269 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,470 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 1,426 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 1,420 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,145 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 1,086 |
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 | 45.8% | 11,044 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.6% | 9,320 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.0% | 7,007 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.0% | 4,824 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.7% | 4,507 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.6% | 4,239 |
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 | 330 | 20.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,410 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 6,209 | 28.5% |
| 90-120k | 7,222 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 4,959 | 34.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,985 | 37.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 23,030 | 31.0% |
| Diesel | 1,097 | 32.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,198 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 6,138 | 31.4% |
| 2023 | 4,399 | 31.2% |
| 2024 | 3,092 | 30.6% |
| 2025 | 2,300 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Focus
Before buying a 2000 Ford Focus, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 18.0% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (18.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (17.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (12.0% 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 2000 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
68.9% of the 24,127 2000 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Ford Focus?
Suspension, recorded in 18.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (17.3%).
Does the 2000 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 0-30k band to 37.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 24,127 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.