2003 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Ford Focus passed 69.8% of its 107,139 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (18.6%) and suspension (17.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, stop lamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 9,156 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.2% in the 0-30k band and 35.6% in the 150k+ band, a 14.4-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 29.9% fail against 33.6% for diesel, a 3.7-point gap across 107,134 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 40.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.3% in 2021 to 28.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 19,935 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.0% | 18,192 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.0% | 10,747 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 7,843 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.1% | 6,507 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.0% | 6,407 |
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 | 9,156 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 7,298 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6,275 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 5,291 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 5,091 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 4,800 |
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 | 40.2% | 43,071 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.4% | 36,848 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.2% | 31,250 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.6% | 19,869 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.2% | 18,376 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 16.2% | 17,359 |
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 | 4,504 | 21.2% |
| 30-60k | 14,771 | 24.5% |
| 60-90k | 26,609 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 29,497 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 19,619 | 34.4% |
| 150k+ | 11,094 | 35.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 97,290 | 29.9% |
| Diesel | 9,844 | 33.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,152 | 31.3% |
| 2022 | 25,816 | 30.3% |
| 2023 | 20,059 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 15,397 | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 11,715 | 28.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Focus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (17.0% 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.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 2003 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
69.8% of the 107,139 2003 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by suspension (17.0%).
Does the 2003 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.2% in the 0-30k band to 35.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 107,139 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.