2012 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
441,587 MOT tests on the 2012 Ford Focus are in this dataset, and 77.6% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (21.2% fail rate), the 2012 Focus comes out 1.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.0%) and suspension (11.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 29,373 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.4% in the 0-30k band and 26.4% in the 150k+ band, a 14.0-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 21.2% fail against 23.9% for diesel, a 2.8-point gap across 441,582 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 29.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 21.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 57,288 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.0% | 48,724 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.0% | 26,495 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.3% | 18,815 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 14,650 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.9% | 12,930 |
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 | 29,373 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 27,802 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 17,445 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 16,146 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 11,892 |
| 6 | Joints | 9,806 |
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 | 29.8% | 131,791 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.3% | 98,367 |
| 3 | Brakes | 19.2% | 84,845 |
| 4 | Other defects | 11.1% | 48,777 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 32,533 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 29,687 |
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 | 8,385 | 12.4% |
| 30-60k | 75,865 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 156,541 | 21.7% |
| 90-120k | 122,210 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 54,155 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 24,241 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 248,548 | 21.2% |
| Diesel | 193,034 | 23.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92,437 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 90,764 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 90,022 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 86,174 | 22.7% |
| 2025 | 82,190 | 23.6% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Focus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.0% 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 (6.0% 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 2012 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
77.6% of the 441,587 2012 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford Focus?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by suspension (11.0%).
Does the 2012 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.4% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 441,587 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.