Used car guide

2018 Ford Focus: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Ford Focuss, from 47,246 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

47,246MOT tests in 2025
82%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
7,300typical miles a year
31%had tyres flagged

What gets flagged at MOT

The share of 2018 Ford Focus MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    31% 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.

  • Brakes
    17% 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.

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

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

  • Suspension
    7% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (1.0 EcoBoost)
    1.0 EcoBoost petrol

    The 1.0 EcoBoost’s timing belt sits in the engine oil. Missed or wrong-spec oil changes can make it break down and block the oil pickup, which can wreck the engine.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history with regular oil changes, and whether the timing belt has been changed when due.

    Source: Bumper: Ford Fiesta reliability guide

  • PowerShift automatic gearbox
    Automatic versions only

    Expert buying guides suggest avoiding the PowerShift automatic on this Focus. Early versions especially were troublesome.

    At the viewing: If it’s an automatic, ask for proof of gearbox fluid changes and test it in slow traffic for judder or hesitation.

    Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

  • Broken front coil springs

    Front springs can snap. You may hear a clonk when turning the wheel.

    At the viewing: With the car stopped, turn the steering from lock to lock and listen for a clonk or twang. Springs should be replaced in pairs.

    Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

  • Rattle from the flywheel

    A rattle as you switch the engine off can mean the dual-mass flywheel is failing, which is a big job alongside the clutch.

    At the viewing: Switch the engine off and listen for a rattle. Check the clutch doesn’t bite very high.

    Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

Looking at a Ford Focus?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20218,521Tyres 27%
202030,344Tyres 30%
201953,319Tyres 30%
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%
200839,015Suspension 54%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Ford Focuss registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score