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Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift) (2002-2004) reliability

At a glance

Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift) built around 2004: about average at the MOT

Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift) models built around 2004 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age. An independent inspection matters more than the wider numbers on cars this old.

Looking at a Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

33% of MOT tests on Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift) models built around 2004 ended in a fail (retests included), against 34% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift) models built around 2004 involves the suspension.

Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift)
No reliability rating: too close to call between ratings2002-2004HatchbackDIESEL / PETROL

Based on 41,129 tests of Focus models registered 2002-2004.

About 1 in 12 Focus Mk1 (facelift) MOTs (9.1%) failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built around 2004 (21 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 16,332 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 12 Focus Mk1 (facelift) MOTs (8%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built around 2004 (21 years old).

Based on 16,332 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

Mk1 (facelift) fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
8,11334.3%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
16,33233.4%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
11,30533.3%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
5,37933.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 20 years old.

How the Focus Mk1 (facelift) compares

At each age below, see how the Focus Mk1 (facelift) holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 48,870 tests across 9 Ford models, built around 2004 (21 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateFord average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
8,11334.3%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
16,33233.4%
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
11,30533.3%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
5,37933.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Suspension springs

Worth checking

Check ride height is even side-to-side and look for cracked or rusted coils.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Focus Mk1 (facelift).

  1. 1

    Suzuki Ignis

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    31.7%

    No clear edge over the Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift) on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    1,194 MOT tests on cars built around 2004

  2. 2

    Vauxhall Agila

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    30%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.5%
    Dangerous
    9.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.5%

    Lower fail rate: 30.0%, against 33.4% for the Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift), both built around 2004.

    1,409 MOT tests on cars built around 2004

  3. 3

    Volkswagen Beetle

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    37.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    97.1%

    More still registered at 10 years: 97%, against 90% for the Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift).

    5 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    3,799 MOT tests on cars built around 2004

  4. 4

    Nissan Micra

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    33.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    7.2%
    Dangerous
    6.1%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96%

    Fewer dangerous faults: 6.1%, against 8.0% for the Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift).

    3 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    11,842 MOT tests on cars built around 2004

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

How many are still registered

90%of all Ford Focus cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later. This is the whole model, not only this generation.

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · About typical

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

95 recalls in all

7 of the 95 Focus Mk1 (facelift) recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 1 Critical
  • 6 more

Top concerns

  • Risk of fire
  • Electronic cooling fan control module may overheat
  • Fuel return pipe leak

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

What has gone wrong on Focus Mk1 (facelift) cars built around 2004

The share of petrol cars that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Based on 6,328 cars.

Structural systems

Suspension
71%
Emissions
34%
Steering
9%
Bodywork
9%
Drivetrain
9%

Wear items

Lighting
68%
Brakes
59%
Tyres
59%

Rust, which the MOT calls corrosion: 30% of these cars show rust-related issues at this age.

Check the sills, subframe and brake pipes before you decide.

How Focus Mk1 (facelift) cars have aged

How Focus Mk1 (facelift) cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

0%10%20%30%17181920212223Age at MOTBuilt around 2004, 17 years old at the time of MOT: 34.8% (31,534 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2004, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 34.1% (24,181 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2004, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 34.0% (18,807 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2004, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 34.0% (14,291 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2004, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 33.6% (10,700 tests, 2025 data)2004Built around 2003, 18 years old at the time of MOT: 35.5% (20,510 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2003, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 34.4% (15,349 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2003, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 34.0% (11,854 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2003, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 33.7% (9,075 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2003, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 32.6% (6,902 tests, 2025 data)2003Built around 2002, 19 years old at the time of MOT: 35.7% (16,889 tests, 2021 data)Built around 2002, 20 years old at the time of MOT: 34.0% (12,458 tests, 2022 data)Built around 2002, 21 years old at the time of MOT: 33.9% (9,483 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2002, 22 years old at the time of MOT: 33.6% (7,166 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2002, 23 years old at the time of MOT: 33.7% (5,379 tests, 2025 data)2002
First registered around 2004First registered around 2003First registered around 2002
How each part holds up as Mk1 (facelift) cars age

How each part holds up as Mk1 (facelift) cars age

The share of petrol cars built pre-2005 that have ever failed an MOT on each part of the car. Rates usually rise with age, but can dip slightly as cars leave the road.

Part of the car20 years21 years22 years23 years24 years
Suspension68%71%65%65%62%
Brakes57%59%61%65%65%
Emissions29%34%38%38%32%
Tyres54%59%60%62%62%
Lighting54%68%70%71%71%
Drivetrain12%9%9%7%7%
Bodywork8%9%18%20%12%
Steering6%9%7%8%9%
Corrosion31%30%32%34%28%

Based on petrol cars in the pre-2005 build-year band, from 97 to 9,605 cars at each age.

Mk1 (facelift) variants compared

Focus Mk1 (facelift) variants built around 2004

The fail rate for each Focus Mk1 (facelift) variant, grouped by fuel. Each row counts fails per MOT test, the same way as the main fail rate chart.

Petrol

  • FOCUS33.2%14,151 tests
  • FOCUS C-MAX32.0%721 tests

Diesel

  • FOCUS35.4%931 tests
  • FOCUS C-MAX35.7%527 tests
All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common issues on Ford Focuses of this age

This list covers every Ford Focus built around 2004, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Mk1 (facelift) on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Suspension part corroded, but not seriously weakened

    25.0%
    Advisory: 7,137Fail: 427 (6% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    21.6%
    Advisory: 4,827Fail: 460 (9% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    20.9%
    Advisory: 3,877Fail: 1,342 (26% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    20.8%
    Advisory: 5,683Fail: 461 (8% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Coil spring corroded

    20.7%
    Advisory: 5,330Fail: 383 (7% of the times it was found)

Based on 16,332 tests

Looking at a Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift) right now?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2004 (21 years old), the Ford Focus Mk1 (facelift) (2002-2004) fails MOTs slightly more often than typical for this age. This is based on 16,332 21-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 41,129 MOT tests on Ford Focuses first registered between 2002-2004. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.