2002 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 85,325 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Ford Focus, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 69.7% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (71.7%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 35.9% in the 150k+ group versus 22.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.8% | 15,142 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.2% | 14,707 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 9,057 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 6,195 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.2% | 5,304 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.1% | 5,223 |
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 | 8,769 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 5,188 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 4,754 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 4,198 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 3,762 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 3,706 |
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 | 41.1% | 35,053 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.5% | 30,258 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.0% | 25,617 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.2% | 17,221 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 19.1% | 16,338 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 13,672 |
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 | 2,694 | 22.5% |
| 30-60k | 9,454 | 23.2% |
| 60-90k | 20,790 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 24,460 | 31.2% |
| 120-150k | 16,750 | 34.2% |
| 150k+ | 9,378 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 78,635 | 30.1% |
| Diesel | 6,690 | 32.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,615 | 31.5% |
| 2022 | 20,722 | 30.1% |
| 2023 | 15,868 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 12,012 | 29.4% |
| 2025 | 9,108 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Focus
Before buying a 2002 Ford Focus, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 17.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (17.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.2% 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 (10.6% 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 2002 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 85,325 2002 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (17.2%).
Does the 2002 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.5% in the 0-30k band to 35.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 85,325 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.