Used car guide

2003 Ford Focus: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Ford Focuss, from 9,065 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

9,065MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,300typical miles a year
3.6×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Ford Focuss than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Suspension arm3.6× usual
    Ford Focus
    13.1% All 2003 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Coil springs1.7× usual
    Ford Focus
    18.3% All 2003 cars
    10.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 2.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Sub-frame2.3× usual
    Ford Focus
    13% All 2003 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings1.9× usual
    Ford Focus
    12.3% All 2003 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.4%, against 3.2% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Rear fog light2.8× usual
    Ford Focus
    4.8% All 2003 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 1.6% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

Better than most

Number plate lights: 3.1% here, against 7.9% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Ford Focus MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    54% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    39% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    33% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    19% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    15% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Ford Focus?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023979Tyres 13%
202213,516Tyres 25%
202113,964Tyres 27%
202034,531Tyres 29%
201955,299Tyres 30%
201847,253Tyres 31%
201763,281Tyres 32%
201663,333Tyres 32%
201574,187Tyres 35%
201472,222Tyres 36%
201370,329Tyres 36%
201264,335Suspension 40%
201159,423Suspension 44%
201049,596Suspension 49%
200948,669Suspension 51%
200839,020Suspension 54%
200732,485Suspension 54%
200623,095Suspension 54%
200516,382Suspension 58%
200411,949Suspension 59%
20027,099Suspension 56%
20014,063Suspension 55%
20001,784Suspension 59%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Ford Focuss registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score