Diesel Ford Focus: MOT pass rate

73.7% of diesel Ford Focus pass the MOT first time, measured across 292,548 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 97,971.

Diesel against the other Ford Focus versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Ford Focus specifically, petrol is the strongest at 75.4%, and this diesel version sits 1.1 points below the 74.8% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Ford Focus fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Ford Focus had covered 97,971 miles at test, against 77,898 for the petrol. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Ford Focus page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Ford Focus

1. Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limit, 1.7% of tests (6.29x the national rate for this defect)
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.4% of tests (2.3x the national rate for this defect)
3. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.5% of tests (1.91x the national rate for this defect)
4. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.9% of tests (1.75x the national rate for this defect)
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.6% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
6. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 3.4% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.6% of tests (1.45x the national rate for this defect)
8. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.2% of tests (1.41x the national rate for this defect)
9. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.1% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)
10. A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 1.5% of tests (1.2x the national rate for this defect)

From 294,127 DVSA-tracked diesel Ford Focus tests, 2024, split out from the Ford Focus's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 6.11% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Ford Focus

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 3.5% of tests (2.53x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 9.9% of tests (1.92x the national rate for this defect)
3. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 1.6% of tests (1.51x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 19.7% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect)
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.8% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 37.3% of tests (1.4x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 6.4% of tests (1.36x the national rate for this defect), also fails
8. 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, 1.9% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect)
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 13.2% of tests
10. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 12.1% of tests

From 294,127 DVSA-tracked diesel Ford Focus tests, 2024.

Other Ford Focus fuel types

• Petrol Ford Focus - 75.4%

All Ford Focus MOT data · Every model