Used car guide

2004 Ford Focus C-MAX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 Ford Focus C-MAXs, from 1,504 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,504MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
5,400typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 Ford Focus C-MAXs than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Sub-frame2.8× usual
    Ford Focus C-MAX
    17.6% All 2004 cars
    6.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.3% of all 2004 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.

  • Suspension arm3.7× usual
    Ford Focus C-MAX
    15% All 2004 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.4% of all 2004 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 3.1% here, against 17.1% of all 2004 cars. Track rod ends: 2.7% here, against 6.6% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 Ford Focus C-MAX MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    59% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    44% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    41% 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
    35% 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
    15% 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
    13% 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.

Looking at a Ford Focus C-MAX?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2008521Suspension 55%
20072,401Suspension 54%
20063,416Suspension 57%
20052,223Suspension 59%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 Ford Focus C-MAXs registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score