2017 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
358,146 MOT tests on the 2017 Ford Focus are in this dataset, and 89.3% of them passed. That is 1.2 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 11.9%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.4%) and lighting & signalling (4.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 9,687 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.9% in the 0-30k band and 18.2% in the 150k+ band, a 12.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.9pp more often than petrol ones (12.6% vs 9.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 19,315 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 17,362 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.3% | 8,212 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 6,189 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 5,402 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 3,060 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 9,687 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 7,770 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 6,854 |
| 4 | Washers | 4,455 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 3,416 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 3,027 |
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 | 25.0% | 89,516 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 44,283 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.4% | 26,534 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.1% | 18,128 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 7,725 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 4,506 |
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 | 81,655 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 172,200 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 77,520 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 20,136 | 17.3% |
| 120-150k | 4,748 | 17.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,862 | 18.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 232,548 | 9.6% |
| Diesel | 125,597 | 12.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71,484 | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 71,513 | 9.4% |
| 2023 | 71,744 | 10.9% |
| 2024 | 71,583 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 71,822 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Focus
On a 2017 Focus, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2017 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 358,146 2017 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Focus?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.9%).
Does the 2017 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 18.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 358,146 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.