Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci (2015)

118 real MOT outcomes analysed • 61.6% first-time pass rate

2015 Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci

CarHunch analysed 118 real MOT records for the 2015 Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2015 Focus ST-3 TDCI has a first-time pass rate of just 61.6%, well below the UK average of 80%, which signals genuine reliability concerns for this generation and engine combination. The good news is that dangerous defects are absent from this cohort, so while these cars fail more often, the failures aren't safety-critical.

At 75,745 miles average, these vehicles are running higher than you'd expect for a 2015 model, which partly explains the elevated failure rate—age and mileage compound wear on the ST-3's more highly-strung diesel engine. With 0.22 average failures per vehicle and no advisories recorded, specific issues are scattered rather than systemic, so before buying, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on turbo condition, fuel injectors, and DPF health on any example you're considering.

Below average reliability 18.4% below UK average
61.6%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
74,358
typical mileage
62,719–93,274 middle half
0%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.22
avg MOT failures per car
over 2.9 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2015 Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (99%) 117 61.3% 0.22
Gas Bi-Fuel (1%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2015 Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

62,719
low mileage
74,358
typical
93,274
high mileage

Half of all 2015 Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci vehicles fall between 62,719 and 93,274 miles.

2015 Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 51 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

43 51 2019 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.22
Avg failures per vehicle
0
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Ford Focus ST 3 Tdci:

2016