2005 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 190,206 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Ford Focus, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.7% was in line with the average for small family cars of a similar age (72.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.2% in the 150k+ group versus 18.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 31,059 |
| 2 | Suspension | 16.3% | 31,003 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.1% | 15,339 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 13,237 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 10,793 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 10,129 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 10,316 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 10,159 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 9,194 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 9,082 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 8,610 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 8,488 |
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% | 82,195 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.7% | 60,327 |
| 3 | Brakes | 23.6% | 44,933 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.7% | 31,691 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 29,540 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.6% | 27,843 |
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 | 2,079 | 18.0% |
| 30-60k | 14,823 | 19.9% |
| 60-90k | 46,140 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 64,899 | 29.1% |
| 120-150k | 41,919 | 31.4% |
| 150k+ | 19,368 | 33.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 167,512 | 27.9% |
| Diesel | 22,694 | 30.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58,245 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 46,059 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 36,503 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 28,184 | 28.0% |
| 2025 | 21,215 | 27.8% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Focus
Before buying a 2005 Ford Focus, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 16.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (16.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (16.3% 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 (8.1% 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 2005 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 190,206 2005 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.3% of tests, followed by suspension (16.3%).
Does the 2005 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.0% in the 0-30k band to 33.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 190,206 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.