2023 Ford Focus — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,250 MOT tests, the 2023 Ford Focus recorded a 94.0% pass rate. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (5.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.2%) and lighting & signalling (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 27 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 40 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 39 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.2% | 15 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 14 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.3% | 4 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 3 |
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 | 27 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 11 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 10 |
| 4 | Washers | 9 |
| 5 | Wipers | 9 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 8 |
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 | 11.4% | 142 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 82 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.9% | 36 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 9 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 7 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 4 |
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 | 917 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 291 | 7.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,046 | 6.0% |
| Diesel | 127 | 7.1% |
| Hybrid | 77 | 3.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 41 | 2.4% |
| 2025 | 1,198 | 6.2% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Focus
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.2% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.2% 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 (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.2% 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 2023 Ford Focuss pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 1,250 2023 Ford Focus MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Ford Focus?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.1%).
Does the 2023 Focus get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 7.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,250 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.