Used car guide

2008 Ford Focus: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Ford Focuss, from 39,015 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

39,015MOT tests in 2025
56%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
6,300typical miles a year
1.6×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Ford Focuss than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.6× usual
    Ford Focus
    18.1% All 2008 cars
    11.3%
    Rough price £100–£300

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

  • Suspension arm2.3× usual
    Ford Focus
    8.6% All 2008 cars
    3.7%
    Rough price £100–£300

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

  • Sub-frame1.6× usual
    Ford Focus
    12.1% All 2008 cars
    7.8%
    Rough price £300–£1,000

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

  • Headlamp aim1.5× usual
    Ford Focus
    8.8% All 2008 cars
    5.8%
    Rough price £20–£60

    At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings1.7× usual
    Ford Focus
    7% All 2008 cars
    4.1%
    Rough price £80–£450

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

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.8% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 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.

  • Tyres
    38% 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
    35% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    26% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    14% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20218,521Tyres 27%
202030,344Tyres 30%
201953,319Tyres 30%
201847,246Tyres 31%
201763,270Tyres 32%
201663,324Tyres 32%
201574,174Tyres 35%
201472,213Tyres 36%
201370,325Tyres 36%
201264,331Suspension 40%
201159,423Suspension 44%
201049,593Suspension 49%
200948,664Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Ford Focuss registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score