Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Ford Focus ST Line?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2018 Ford Focus ST Line?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2018 Ford Focus ST Line?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2018 Ford Focus ST Line reliable?

Based on MOT data from 335 vehicles, the 2018 Ford Focus ST Line has a first-time MOT pass rate of 96.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2018 Ford Focus ST Line?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ford Focus ST Line (2018)

335 real MOT outcomes analysed • 96.2% first-time pass rate

2018 Ford Focus ST Line

CarHunch analysed 335 real MOT records for the 2018 Ford Focus ST Line. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Limited data for this trim variant. The DVLA records this vehicle under a specific trim-level name with only 335 vehicles on record — some statistics may not be reliable at this sample size.

See the full 2018 FORD FOCUS (48,944 vehicles)

The 2018 Ford Focus ST Line passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (96.2% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass

96.2%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

0.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.1

Over 2.6 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

37k

Middle half: 30k–48k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 96.2% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 335 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 335 Ford Focus ST Line cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Ford Focus ST Line

Based on MOT data from 335 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Other (87%)	293	96.8%	0.12

Colour Breakdown

Based on 4,647 Ford Focus ST Line vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 28.8%

1,338

Black 22%

1,023

White 15.5%

720

Grey 15%

696

Red 10.8%

504

Silver 7.9%

366

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Ford Focus ST Line vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

37,460

typical

30,125

low mileage

47,881

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Ford Focus ST Line vehicles fall between 30,125 and 47,881 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 30,125 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 30,125–47,881 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Ford Focus ST Lines sit.

⚠ Over 64,639 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Ford Focus ST Line — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 52% of 2018 Ford Focus ST Lines are still active.

136 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 52% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2022–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.1

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Focus ST Line: All Focus ST Line years → Which year to buy? →

2017 2019 2020 2023

Or browse all models: Ford →

Compare with another model

See how the 2018 Ford Focus ST Line stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?