Used car guide

2006 Ford Focus C-MAX: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2006 Ford Focus C-MAXs, from 3,416 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,416MOT tests in 2025

52%pass first time (all 2006 cars: 57%)

5,600typical miles a year

1.8×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2006 Ford Focus C-MAXs than on all cars registered in 2006.

Headlights1.8× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
25.6% All 2006 cars
14.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 9.8%, against 5.1% of all 2006 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.
Sub-frame2.1× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
15% All 2006 cars
7.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2006 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 arm2.9× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
11% All 2006 cars
3.8%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2006 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.
Suspension arm bushes and joints1.6× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
18.3% All 2006 cars
11.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 2.3% of all 2006 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.
Brake pads1.8× usual

Ford Focus C-MAX
14.7% All 2006 cars
8%

Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.9% of all 2006 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.7% here, against 14.1% of all 2006 cars. Track rod ends: 2.4% here, against 5.7% of all 2006 cars.

By area

The share of 2006 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

57% 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

48% 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

42% 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

36% 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

15% 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.
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.

Looking at a Ford Focus C-MAX?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2008	521	Suspension 55%
2007	2,401	Suspension 54%
2005	2,223	Suspension 59%
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 2006 Ford Focus C-MAXs registered in 2006. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score