Used car guide

2005 Ford Focus C-MAX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Ford Focus C-MAXs, from 2,223 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,223MOT tests in 2025

51%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)

5,400typical miles a year

3.2×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Ford Focus C-MAXs than on all cars registered in 2005.

Suspension arm3.2× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
13% All 2005 cars
4.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.4% of all 2005 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.
Sub-frame2.2× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
15.1% All 2005 cars
6.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.3% of all 2005 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.
Brake pads1.7× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
13.4% All 2005 cars
7.7%

Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.8% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.
Number plates1.8× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
12.3% All 2005 cars
6.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.6% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.
Shock absorbers1.8× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
12.1% All 2005 cars
6.9%

Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 1.7% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.8% here, against 14.9% of all 2005 cars. Flexible brake hoses: 1.1% here, against 5.8% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 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

47% 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

39% 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.
Oil and fluid leaks

17% 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.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

12% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Ford Focus C-MAX?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2008	521	Suspension 55%
2007	2,401	Suspension 54%
2006	3,416	Suspension 57%
2004	1,504	Suspension 59%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Ford Focus C-MAXs registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score