Ford Focus (2001)
2001 Ford Focus
CarHunch analysed 141,814 real MOT records for the 2001 Ford Focus. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2001 Ford Focus passes its MOT first time just 70.9% of the time, well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly a third of these vehicles have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a serious red flag for any potential buyer. Petrol and diesel versions perform almost identically, both struggling in the low 70% pass rate range.
At 23 years old, these cars are carrying a reasonable 81,382 miles median mileage, but they're averaging 4.5 failures and nearly 19 advisories per test, indicating systemic wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, budget for immediate professional inspection of brakes, suspension, and exhaust—the combination of age, high failure frequency, and dangerous defect prevalence means the cheapest Focus often costs the most to own.
What to check before buying a 2001 Ford Focus
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.
- ⚠️ 31.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (84%) | 119,576 | 71.1% | 4.57 |
| Diesel (16%) | 22,081 | 69.9% | 4.3 |
| LPG (0%) | 141 | 69.9% | 4.35 |
| Other (0%) | 9 | 65.5% | 1.44 |
| Electric (0%) | 3 | 69.5% | 3.33 |
| LNG (0%) | 1 | 55.6% | 4 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 50% | 2 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 80% | 1 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 68.4% | 6 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2001 Ford Focus 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.
Half of all 2001 Ford Focus vehicles fall between 65,469 and 98,503 miles.
2001 Ford Focus — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 5,181 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2001 Ford Focus
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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95%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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88.6%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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69.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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63.6%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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45.6%
Oil leak
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37.8%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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36.8%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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36.2%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Ford Focus?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.