2011 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
425,449 MOT tests on the 2011 Ford Focus are in this dataset, and 76.1% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 1.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.6% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, coil spring and position lamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 35,250 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.8% in the 0-30k band and 28.5% in the 150k+ band, a 15.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (25.8% vs 22.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 22.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.6% | 66,420 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.3% | 52,539 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.3% | 26,656 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 18,913 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.2% | 17,815 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.2% | 13,614 |
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 | 35,250 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 24,522 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 17,485 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 17,300 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 14,763 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 13,005 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.7% | 130,552 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.7% | 109,157 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.6% | 79,106 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.3% | 48,306 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 39,253 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 37,834 |
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 | 5,799 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 54,724 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 135,522 | 22.4% |
| 90-120k | 132,609 | 25.9% |
| 120-150k | 66,394 | 27.5% |
| 150k+ | 30,029 | 28.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 263,867 | 22.8% |
| Diesel | 161,582 | 25.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89,583 | 22.5% |
| 2022 | 88,753 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 86,908 | 24.3% |
| 2024 | 82,932 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 77,273 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Focus
On a 2011 Focus, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.3% 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 (6.3% 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 2011 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 425,449 2011 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.6% of tests, followed by suspension (12.3%).
Does the 2011 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 28.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 425,449 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.