Ford Focus Mk3: best and worst years, and what goes wrong
How each year of the Ford Focus Mk3 did at the MOTs done during 2023–2025, compared with other cars the same age, the weak spots that keep coming up, and what to check before you buy one. From 1,575,161 MOT tests.
Which Ford Focus Mk3 years are best and worst at their MOT?
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.
| Year | Pass first time | All cars that year | Stands out | MOT tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011* | 59% | 62% -3 | Headlight aim 2× usual | 189,450 |
| 2012 | 63% | 64% -1 | Suspension arm bushes and joints 1.6× usual | 201,769 |
| 2013 | 63% | 67% -4 | Individual direction indicators 3.9× usual | 217,909 |
| 2014 | 67% | 70% -3 | Sidelights 2× usual | 221,326 |
| 2015 | 76% | 74% +2 | Tyre pressure monitoring system 3× usual | 223,949 |
| 2016 | 79% | 77% +2 | Side repeaters 4.5× usual | 190,185 |
| 2017 | 82% | 80% +2 | Nothing unusual | 189,550 |
| 2018* | 83% | 83% +0 | Nothing unusual | 141,023 |
Common Ford Focus Mk3 MOT failures, year after year
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.
- Sidelightsup to 2× usual
Stands out in 3 years: 2016, 2014, 2013.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt 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 estimateAt the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.
- Side repeatersup to 4.5× usual
Stands out in 2 years: 2016, 2015.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
- Individual direction indicatorsup to 3.9× usual
Stands out in 2 years: 2013, 2012.
Rough price £10–£80 our estimateAt the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
- Tyre pressure monitoring systemup to 3× usual
Stands out in 2 years: 2015, 2014.
Rough price £70–£150 our estimateAt the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.
- Sub-frameup to 1.9× usual
Stands out in 2 years: 2014, 2013.
Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimateAt the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.
What usually goes wrong with the Ford Focus Mk3?
From owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Not every car will have them.
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.
Timing belt that runs in oil (1.0 EcoBoost)
Ford’s 1.0 three-cylinder petrol uses a timing belt that runs in the engine oil on most cars. If oil changes are late or the wrong oil is used, the belt breaks down and sheds rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some later cars have a timing chain instead: a Ford dealer can tell you from the VIN. Ford’s change interval is 10 years or 150,000 miles, and the belt isn’t covered by warranty.
Check: Ask for a full service history with the right oil, and when the belt was changed. An oil-pressure warning light, a rattle or a rough idle are warning signs.
Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt
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.
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
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
Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, 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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