Ford Focus ST — MOT pass rate & failures
18,032 MOT tests on the Ford Focus ST (2004–2023) give an 88.7% pass rate. That is 9.3 percentage points better than the 20.6% fail rate across all Ford Focus versions, so the Focus ST is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 283 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Focus ST fails 9.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.2% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.5 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 8,806 | 88.1% | 11.9% |
| 2020 | 6,468 | 88.3% | 11.7% |
| 2021 | 1,556 | 90.5% | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 991 | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 117 | 94.9% | 5.1% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.2% | 1,485 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.8% | 320 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 284 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.8% | 140 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 112 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 85 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.3% | 56 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.3% | 54 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 283 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 254 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 238 |
| 4 | Washers | 86 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 77 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 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 | 21.0% | 3,789 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.3% | 2,939 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 878 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 3.7% | 672 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 231 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.3% | 226 |
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 | 10,506 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 6,735 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 686 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 82 | 12.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,335 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 4,457 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 5,012 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 6,201 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a Ford Focus ST
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (8.2% 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.
- Brakes (1.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 reliable is the Ford Focus ST at MOT time?
88.7% of the 18,032 Ford Focus ST MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate, better than the 20.6% average across all Focus versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Ford Focus ST?
Tyres, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by brakes (1.8%).
Does the Focus ST get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 12.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 18,032 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.