2008 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 356,303 MOT tests, the 2008 Ford Focus recorded a 73.8% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 26.2%, so the 2008 Focus sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.1%) and suspension (14.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 32,145 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.0% versus 17.4%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (28.6% vs 25.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 38.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.1% | 60,826 |
| 2 | Suspension | 14.3% | 50,997 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.0% | 25,075 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.7% | 20,126 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 19,023 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 18,587 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 32,145 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 23,079 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 19,045 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 18,044 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 15,131 |
| 6 | Washers | 13,189 |
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 | 38.7% | 137,821 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.5% | 112,232 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.9% | 74,438 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.7% | 52,364 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.2% | 43,473 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 38,388 |
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 | 3,791 | 17.4% |
| 30-60k | 28,705 | 17.7% |
| 60-90k | 90,667 | 23.4% |
| 90-120k | 122,270 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 75,612 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 34,025 | 31.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 268,666 | 25.4% |
| Diesel | 87,634 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89,699 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 81,164 | 25.7% |
| 2023 | 72,438 | 26.6% |
| 2024 | 61,885 | 26.9% |
| 2025 | 51,117 | 27.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Focus
On a 2008 Focus, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (14.3% 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.
- 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 2008 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
73.8% of the 356,303 2008 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.1% of tests, followed by suspension (14.3%).
Does the 2008 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 356,303 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.