2017 · 7 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2017 Ford Focus MOT pass rate and common faults

62,301 MOT tests in 2024. 82.5% passed first time, compared with 79.8% for all cars the same age.

103Above average
Passed first time82.5%
Failed or needed repairs17.5%
Typical mileage at test53,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 62,301 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
    1,984 marked dangerous
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
    1,453 marked dangerous
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.5%
    1,267 marked dangerous
  4. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  5. Headlamp aim: too low0.8%
  6. Side repeaters: not working0.7%
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.7%
  8. On or after 01/01/2014: emissions exceed manufacturer's specified limit0.6%
  9. Position lamp: not working0.5%
  10. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.5%
    384 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Tyres7.4%
  2. Lights & electrics7.3%
  3. Brakes3.5%
  4. Emissions & leaks2.4%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.1%
  6. Suspension1.3%
  7. Body & chassis0.5%
  8. Wheels0.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.2%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.3%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.0%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened4.1%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.9%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2017 Ford Focus?

In 2024, 82.5% of 2017 Ford Focus cars passed their MOT first time, across 62,301 tests. The average for all 7-year-old cars was 79.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2017 Ford Focus?

The most common failure reasons were tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2017 Ford Focus reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 103, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).