2004 Ford Focus MOT pass rate: 61.3% (46,689 tests)
Is the 2004 Focus getting worse?
Pass rate of 2004-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 61.3% -2.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 61.1% -3.0 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 61.7% -3.5 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2004 Focus
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17,785 | 27.9% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12,583 | 19.7% |
| 3 | Brakes | 9,609 | 15.0% |
| 4 | Body, chassis, structure | 5,251 | 8.2% |
| 5 | Tyres | 5,021 | 7.9% |
| 6 | Steering | 4,236 | 6.6% |
All Focus years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 16,265 | 62.0% | -4.6 pts | 99,914 |
| 2002 | 28,090 | 61.6% | -4.0 pts | 97,529 |
| 2003 | 35,366 | 61.8% | -3.2 pts | 94,282 |
| 2004 (this page) | 46,689 | 61.3% | -3.0 pts | 101,176 |
| 2005 | 64,813 | 63.3% | -1.2 pts | 103,582 |
| 2006 | 86,982 | 66.7% | +2.3 pts | 104,900 |
| 2007 | 120,109 | 66.8% | +1.7 pts | 103,334 |
| 2008 | 138,785 | 65.1% | -0.0 pts | 104,811 |
| 2009 | 164,801 | 66.3% | -0.1 pts | 101,460 |
| 2010 | 161,082 | 67.4% | -0.0 pts | 99,494 |
| 2011 | 188,090 | 68.0% | -1.2 pts | 97,859 |
| 2012 | 200,654 | 70.7% | -0.5 pts | 91,551 |
| 2013 | 216,794 | 71.3% | -2.0 pts | 85,387 |
| 2014 | 220,238 | 74.3% | -1.6 pts | 77,636 |
| 2015 | 222,941 | 81.5% | +2.7 pts | 70,547 |
| 2016 | 189,364 | 84.7% | +3.4 pts | 61,705 |
| 2017 | 188,778 | 86.6% | +2.6 pts | 52,866 |
| 2018 | 140,414 | 87.1% | +0.7 pts | 43,139 |
| 2019 | 158,090 | 86.5% | -1.9 pts | 37,739 |
| 2020 | 91,339 | 89.4% | -0.6 pts | 30,803 |
| 2021 | 17,043 | 89.2% | -1.3 pts | 30,654 |
| 2022 | 4,826 | 92.4% | +1.2 pts | 24,112 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Ford Focus years to avoid.
- Free MOT history checkThe exact car’s failures, advisories and mileage trail — sellers can’t edit it
- Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
- XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
- Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers
FAQs
Is a 2004 Ford Focus reliable?
2004-registered examples passed 61.3% of their MOT tests (46,689 tests, 2023–2025), -3.0 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 22 years old with a median 101,176 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2004 Focus?
The median tested example shows 101,176 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Should I buy the petrol or diesel 2004 Focus?
In this cohort petrols pass 61.7% of tests against 56.7% for diesels. Mileage and use can explain part of that gap, so treat it as a reason to inspect DPF and emissions history, not a fuel-type verdict.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.