2022 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
18,046 MOT tests on the 2022 Ford Focus are in this dataset, and 92.8% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 7.9%, so the 2022 Focus sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.5%) and lighting & signalling (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 354 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.0% in the 0-30k band and 15.3% in the 90-120k band, a 9.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.6pp more often than petrol ones (11.3% vs 6.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 20.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.5% | 816 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 442 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 177 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.0% | 173 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 74 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 73 |
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 | 354 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 203 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 128 |
| 4 | Washers | 125 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 81 |
| 6 | Horn | 71 |
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 | 20.0% | 3,606 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 1,843 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 885 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 230 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 151 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 67 |
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 | 12,687 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 4,699 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 548 | 11.7% |
| 90-120k | 98 | 15.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15,648 | 6.7% |
| Diesel | 2,293 | 11.3% |
| Hybrid | 105 | 6.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,168 | 6.1% |
| 2025 | 16,860 | 7.3% |
What to check before buying a 2022 Focus
On a 2022 Focus, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (4.5% 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 (2.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2022 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
92.8% of the 18,046 2022 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Ford Focus?
Tyres, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.5%).
Does the 2022 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 15.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,046 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.