Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Ford Focus?

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 1998 Ford Focus?

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 1998 Ford Focus?

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.

How many 1998 Ford Focus vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

29% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1998 Ford Focus reliable?

Based on MOT data from 8,299 vehicles, the 1998 Ford Focus has a first-time MOT pass rate of 66.8%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Ford Focus?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Ford Focus are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (81% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (76.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (59.6% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Ford Focus?

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 (1998)

8,299 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.8% first-time pass rate

1998 Ford Focus

CarHunch analysed 8,299 real MOT records for the 1998 Ford Focus. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1998 Ford Focus passes its MOT first time just 66.8% of the time—13 percentage points below the UK average of 80%—and nearly 3 in 10 of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a serious red flag for safety-conscious buyers. This is a car that will likely need work before it passes inspection.

At 91,750 miles average, these Focuses have covered typical mileage for their age, but they're accumulating an average of 4.2 failures and 17.6 advisories per test, suggesting widespread wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on brakes, suspension, and structural integrity—the dangerous defect prevalence tells you these cars have real structural or safety risks hiding in the used market.

The 1998 Ford Focus has a below-average first-time pass rate (66.8% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

66.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

29.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.23

Over 12.2 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

90k

Middle half: 74k–107k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 17.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 8,299 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 8,299 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 81%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 53.2%

Oil leak

Brake wear 47%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 31.9%

Offside Rear coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear coil spring corroded

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Lighting 29.8%

Nearside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 8,299 Ford Focus cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Ford Focus

Based on MOT data from 8,299 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 29.1% 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
Petrol (100%)	8,283	66.8%	4.23

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,050,773 Ford Focus vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 25.3%

518,333

Silver 23.7%

486,103

Black 17.3%

355,091

Grey 10.8%

222,447

Red 8.9%

182,749

White 6.7%

137,725

Green 5.7%

117,814

Brown 0.5%

9,902

Gold 0.4%

8,209

Orange 0.3%

5,902

Yellow 0.2%

4,627

Purple 0.1%

1,871

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Ford Focus 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.

90,147

typical

74,033

low mileage

107,187

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Ford Focus vehicles fall between 74,033 and 107,187 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 74,033 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.

✓ 74,033–107,187 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Ford Focuss sit.

⚠ Over 144,702 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Ford Focus — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 7% of 1998 Ford Focuss are still active.

Numbers are declining — 220 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (7% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.23

Avg failures per vehicle

17.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Buyer beware — pass it on