2009 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2009 Ford Focus passed 74.9% of its 398,005 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (25.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.0% of tests against 13.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, pins and bushes and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 42,329 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.8% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 24.4% fail against 27.5% for diesel, a 3.1-point gap across 397,991 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 35.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 24.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.0% | 71,769 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 52,591 |
| 3 | Tyres | 7.0% | 28,045 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.2% | 20,803 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.8% | 18,932 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.1% | 16,372 |
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 | 42,329 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 28,563 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 25,366 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 16,518 |
| 5 | Washers | 15,571 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 14,381 |
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 | 35.9% | 143,099 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.2% | 124,278 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.2% | 76,528 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 49,328 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 45,210 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.3% | 44,851 |
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 | 7,111 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 39,277 | 16.5% |
| 60-90k | 109,706 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 133,349 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 74,555 | 28.8% |
| 150k+ | 31,378 | 29.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 301,332 | 24.4% |
| Diesel | 96,659 | 27.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92,669 | 24.0% |
| 2022 | 87,412 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 81,414 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 72,998 | 25.9% |
| 2025 | 63,512 | 26.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Focus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.2% 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 2009 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 398,005 2009 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.0% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2009 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 398,005 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.