Used car guide · 2018–2025

Ford Focus Mk4: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How each year of the Ford Focus Mk4 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 469,127 MOT tests.

2021best year: 88% pass first time, 1 points above all 2021 cars
2019weakest year: 84% pass first time, 1 points below all 2019 cars
Brake padsthe weak spot that shows up in 2 different years

Which Ford Focus Mk4 years are best and worst at their MOT?

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Ford Focus Mk4, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

70%85%100%2018: 83% pass first time (all 2018 cars: 83%) 83% 2018*2019: 84% pass first time (all 2019 cars: 85%) 84% 20192020: 87% pass first time (all 2020 cars: 87%) 87% 20202021: 88% pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%) 88% 20212022: 90% pass first time (all 2022 cars: 89%) 90% 20222023: 91% pass first time (all 2023 cars: 92%) 91% 2023
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
2018*83%83% +0Nothing unusual141,023
201984%85% -1Brake pads 1.6× usual164,617
202087%87% +0Brake pads 1.7× usual109,516
202188%87% +1Brake discs 1.7× usual37,645
202290%89% +1Nothing unusual15,220
202391%92% -1Nothing unusual1,106

Common Ford Focus Mk4 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.

  • Brake padsup to 1.7× usual

    Stands out in 2 years: 2020, 2019.

    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.

What usually goes wrong with the Ford Focus Mk4?

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)

    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

  • Oil pump belt that runs in oil (2.0 EcoBlue diesel)

    The 2.0 EcoBlue diesel drives its oil pump with a belt that runs in the engine oil. As it wears it can shed rubber and cut oil pressure, which can wreck the engine. Ford has shortened the change interval on the Transit to 6 years or 100,000 miles.

    Check: Ask when the oil pump belt was last changed, and watch for an oil-pressure warning light.

    Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt

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

Looking at a Ford Focus?

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