Used car guide · 2011–2018

Ford Focus Mk3: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How every year of the Ford Focus Mk3 did at its MOT in 2025 compared with other cars the same age, the weak spots that keep coming up, and what to check before you buy one. From 514,306 MOT tests.

2017best year: 81% pass first time, 3 points above all 2017 cars
2014weakest year: 64% pass first time, 5 points below all 2014 cars
Sub-framethe weak spot that shows up in 5 different years

Year by year

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Ford Focus Mk3, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

40%70%100%2011: 58% pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%) 58% 2011*2012: 62% pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%) 62% 20122013: 62% pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%) 62% 20132014: 64% pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%) 64% 20142015: 72% pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%) 72% 20152016: 77% pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%) 77% 20162017: 81% pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%) 81% 20172018: 82% pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%) 82% 2018*
This model, first-time pass rate All cars registered that year · * changeover year: some cars are the previous or next generation
YearPass first timeAll cars that yearStands outMOT tests
2011*58%61% -3Headlight aim 2× usual59,423
201262%63% -1Suspension arm bushes and joints 1.6× usual64,331
201362%66% -4Individual direction indicators 3.9× usual70,325
201464%69% -5Sidelights 2.1× usual72,213
201572%72% +0Tyre pressure monitoring system 3.7× usual74,174
201677%75% +2Side repeaters 4.1× usual63,324
201781%78% +3Side repeaters 3.5× usual63,270
2018*82%81% +1Nothing unusual47,246

Weak spots across the Ford Focus Mk3

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year of this generation. Repeat findings like these are much less likely to be chance.

  • Sub-frameup to 2.3× usual

    Stands out in 5 years: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012.

    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.

  • Side repeatersup to 4.1× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2017, 2016, 2015.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Tyre pressure monitoring systemup to 3.8× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2016, 2015, 2014.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

  • Sidelightsup to 2.1× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2016, 2014, 2013.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Headlight aimup to 1.8× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2014, 2013, 2012.

    Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

    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.

  • Hornup to 6.5× usual

    Stands out in 2 years: 2014, 2013.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

Known faults

From owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Not every car will have them.

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (1.0 EcoBoost)

    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.

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

    If it needs doing: Timing belt (cambelt) change, about £300–£700 (often with the water pump). ClickMechanic

    Source: Bumper: Ford Fiesta reliability guide

  • Coolant pipe that can split (early 1.0 EcoBoost)

    On early 1.0 EcoBoost Focuses a small plastic coolant pipe could split and overheat the engine. Ford issued a fix.

    Check: Ask whether the coolant pipe fix was done, and check the coolant level.

    Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

  • PowerShift automatic gearbox

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

    Check: 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.

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

    If it needs doing: Coil springs (pair), about £175–£400. ClickMechanic

    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.

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

    If it needs doing: Clutch and dual-mass flywheel, about £650–£1,200. ClickMechanic

    Source: Parkers: Ford Focus Mk3 buying guide

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting each car's main test of the year (not retests). A weak spot needs at least 30 cars flagged and must stay 1.5× the usual rate even at the cautious end of a 95% confidence range. Generation years are approximate: cars registered in a changeover year (*) can be either generation. How we score

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