2004 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 136,450 MOT tests analysed for the 2004 Ford Focus, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 70.3% was below the average for small family cars of a similar age (71.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 34.7% in the 150k+ group versus 19.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.1% | 24,750 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.0% | 23,127 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.3% | 12,742 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 8,855 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.4% | 8,690 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 8,479 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 8,912 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 7,269 |
| 3 | Track rod end | 7,152 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 6,725 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 6,200 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 6,019 |
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 | 43.2% | 59,007 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.7% | 47,357 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.2% | 41,154 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.7% | 24,147 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.3% | 23,657 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.1% | 19,282 |
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 | 2,068 | 19.3% |
| 30-60k | 13,220 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 34,499 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 43,757 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 28,386 | 33.6% |
| 150k+ | 14,181 | 34.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 124,164 | 29.4% |
| Diesel | 12,282 | 32.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41,505 | 30.0% |
| 2022 | 32,849 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 26,131 | 29.4% |
| 2024 | 20,417 | 29.5% |
| 2025 | 15,548 | 29.2% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Focus
Before buying a 2004 Ford Focus, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 18.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (18.1% 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 (9.3% 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 2004 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
70.3% of the 136,450 2004 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by suspension (17.0%).
Does the 2004 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.3% in the 0-30k band to 34.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 136,450 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.