2007 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 340,693 MOT tests, the 2007 Ford Focus recorded a 74.2% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (26.9% fail rate), the 2007 Focus comes out 1.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (16.1%) and suspension (14.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, headlamp aim and position lamp — pins and bushes alone was recorded 20,262 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 30.8% versus 21.3%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.2% fail against 28.7% for diesel, a 3.6-point gap across 340,692 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 41.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 16.1% | 54,893 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.4% | 48,959 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.0% | 23,852 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.0% | 20,626 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 17,510 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 17,285 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 20,262 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 18,039 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 17,208 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 16,764 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 15,515 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 13,802 |
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 | 41.0% | 139,840 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.1% | 106,003 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.4% | 76,416 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 47,988 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.0% | 47,770 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.6% | 46,346 |
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 | 5,141 | 21.3% |
| 30-60k | 26,243 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 85,631 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 116,346 | 26.5% |
| 120-150k | 70,660 | 29.1% |
| 150k+ | 33,427 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 275,415 | 25.2% |
| Diesel | 65,277 | 28.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92,729 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 79,728 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 68,187 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 55,498 | 26.1% |
| 2025 | 44,551 | 26.2% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Focus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (16.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.4% 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.
- Tyres (7.0% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2007 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
74.2% of the 340,693 2007 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by suspension (14.4%).
Does the 2007 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.3% in the 0-30k band to 30.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 340,693 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.