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2004 Ford Focus: MOT pass rate and common faults

11,836 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used in 2004 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

52.2%passed first time

Share of initial MOT tests passed with no repairs. Repairs made at the test centre count as a fail. 95% range 51.3% to 53.1% (±1.0 points).

That is 5.6 points below the average for all vehicles first used in 2004 (57.8%). These cars were about 21 years old at the test.

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Failure areas compared with all 2004 vehicles

Compared with all vehicles first used in 2004, failures are more common in lights and electrics (1.1×), suspension (1.3×), steering (1.7×) and tyres (1.2×), and less common in brakes (0.8×) and noise, emissions, leaks (0.9×). Other differences are within the margin of error.

Failed tests with a fault in each area, per 100 tests. The right-hand column shows how many times as often as all vehicles first used in 2004.

  1. Lights and electrics24.0 in 100 tests1.1× compared with 21.4 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2004
  2. Suspension21.9 in 100 tests1.3× compared with 16.8 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2004
  3. Brakes10.8 in 100 tests0.8× compared with 12.9 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2004
  4. Body, chassis, structure8.6 in 100 tests1.0× compared with 8.7 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2004
  5. Windscreen, wipers, mirrors7.6 in 100 tests1.0× compared with 7.3 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2004
  6. Steering7.5 in 100 tests1.7× compared with 4.3 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2004
  7. Tyres7.5 in 100 tests1.2× compared with 6.1 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2004
  8. Noise, emissions, leaks6.4 in 100 tests0.9× compared with 7.4 in 100 for all vehicles first used in 2004
  9. Seat belts and airbags2.7 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2004
  10. Number plates and VIN0.8 in 100 tests– no reliable figure for all vehicles first used in 2004

All vehicles first used in 2004: the 96 models in our data, 330,030 tests (82.4% of all 400,624 tests on vehicles first used in 2004). Areas with fewer than 50 failures in a model aren't published, so an area is only compared when that leaves the all-vehicles figure at most 10% short; otherwise it shows –.

Typical mileage at test101,300

Median odometer reading at the 2025 MOT test, in miles. Half had more and half had less.

What MOT data can't tell you about any 2004 Ford Focus

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checksWhat MOT history doesn't show

Other Ford Focus years

Ford Focus: every year, common faults and what to check

Other cars first used in 2004

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