Ford Focus (1999)
1999 Ford Focus
CarHunch analysed 99,729 real MOT records for the 1999 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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The 1999 Ford Focus is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 67.5% compared to 80%—and nearly 30% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects during their MOT history, which is a serious red flag for a buyer. Both petrol and diesel versions perform equally poorly at around 67.5–67.8%, so fuel type won't help you dodge the underlying issues.
These cars are now 25 years old and averaging nearly 98,000 miles, which is reasonable for the age, but the real concern is what happens in the test bay: owners should expect an average of 4.3 failures and 18 advisories per MOT, suggesting chronic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus specifically on braking, suspension, and steering components—the systems most likely to generate dangerous defects on this generation.
The 1999 Ford Focus has a below-average first-time pass rate (67.6% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 99,729 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 99,729 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 99,729 Ford Focus cars.
Before you buy a 1999 Ford Focus
Based on MOT data from 99,729 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
29.7% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (89%) | 88,788 | 67.5% | 4.37 |
| Diesel (11%) | 10,909 | 67.9% | 3.55 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 2,050,773 Ford Focus vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 1999 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.
Half of all 1999 Ford Focus vehicles fall between 75,818 and 111,232 miles.
1999 Ford Focus — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 5% of 1999 Ford Focuss are still active.
Numbers are declining — 2,367 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
* 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
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Compare with another model
See how the 1999 Ford Focus stacks up against a rival.