Ford Focus C-Max: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Ford Focus C-Max fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 17.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 14,400 individual Ford Focus C-Max tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 59.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 41 in every 100 Ford Focus C-Max presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average Ford Focus C-Max tested had covered 108,638 miles and was built around 2006.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Ford Focus C-Max sits 17.2 points below the national average, ranked 1,961 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Ford Focus C-Max rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see recorded closing bids for damaged Ford Focus C-Max at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Ford Focus C-Max

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3.8% of tests (18.09x the national rate for this defect)
2. Headlamp reflector or lens seriously defective or missing, 3.8% of tests (17.54x the national rate for this defect)
3. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 12.3% of tests (5.22x the national rate for this defect)
4. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5% of tests (3.26x the national rate for this defect)
5. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 5.2% of tests (3.1x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.4% of tests (2.91x the national rate for this defect)
7. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 3.2% of tests (2.49x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 12.4% of tests (2.47x the national rate for this defect)
9. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 3% of tests (2.46x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.9% of tests (2.29x the national rate for this defect)

From 14,405 DVSA-tracked Ford Focus C-Max tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.01% of these flagged Ford Focus C-Max defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Ford Focus C-Max

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Ford Focus C-Max before it actually fails on it.

1. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 9.9% of tests (8.93x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 32.9% of tests (6.35x the national rate for this advisory)
3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 6.7% of tests (4.41x the national rate for this advisory)
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 19.6% of tests (4.16x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 10.1% of tests (3.82x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 4.7% of tests (3.77x the national rate for this advisory)
7. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 5% of tests (3.66x the national rate for this advisory)
8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 10% of tests (3.52x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 13.5% of tests (2.42x the national rate for this advisory)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 30.8% of tests (2.3x the national rate for this advisory), also fails

From 14,405 DVSA-tracked Ford Focus C-Max tests, 2024.

Ford Focus C-Max pass rate by model year

From its 2004 to its 2008 model year, the Ford Focus C-Max's first-time pass rate has risen 6.1 points, from 56.5% to 62.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Ford Focus C-Max year:

• 2004 Ford Focus C-Max - 56.5% first-time pass, 2,265 tests
• 2005 Ford Focus C-Max - 59.3% first-time pass, 3,164 tests
• 2006 Ford Focus C-Max - 60.6% first-time pass, 4,540 tests
• 2007 Ford Focus C-Max - 61% first-time pass, 2,981 tests
• 2008 Ford Focus C-Max - 62.6% first-time pass, 618 tests
• 2009 Ford Focus C-Max - 66.1% first-time pass, 230 tests

Ford Focus C-Max by fuel type

The Ford Focus C-Max's two most-tested fuel types split by 2.2 points: petrol passes first time 60.7% of the time (10,318 tests) against 58.5% for diesel (3,926 tests).

• Petrol Ford Focus C-Max - 60.7% first-time pass, 10,318 tests
• Diesel Ford Focus C-Max - 58.5% first-time pass, 3,926 tests

Other Ford models

• Ford Fiesta - 71.7%
• Ford Focus - 74.4%
• Ford Transit - 67.6%
• Ford Kuga - 82.4%
• Ford Mondeo - 72.2%
• Ford Ka - 72.2%
• Ford Transit Connect - 72%
• Ford Ranger - 76.9%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Mitsubishi Grandis - 59.7%
• Hyundai Accent - 59.6%
• Nissan Pickup - 59.6%
• Renault Grand Espace - 59.4%
• Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin - 59.1%
• Mazda 5 - 59%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate