Ford Focus (2002)
2002 Ford Focus
CarHunch analysed 154,747 real MOT records for the 2002 Ford Focus. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2002 Ford Focus has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.5%, which sits significantly below the UK average of 80% and suggests more substantial wear than comparable vehicles of this age. More concerningly, one in three of these cars (33.7%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, making safety history a critical factor for any buyer considering this model.
These cars are typically running at around 82,000 miles on average, which is reasonable for a 22-year-old vehicle, but they're accumulating an average of nearly five failures per test and over 21 advisories, pointing to widespread mechanical fatigue. Before purchasing, get a full pre-buy inspection and specifically request the vehicle's MOT history to check whether dangerous defects were properly resolved—this cohort's track record suggests it's essential due diligence.
What to check before buying a 2002 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.
- ⚠️ 33.7% 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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (80%) | 124,507 | 71.7% | 4.92 |
| Diesel (20%) | 30,182 | 70.9% | 4.53 |
| LPG (0%) | 33 | 68.6% | 4.33 |
| Other (0%) | 19 | 68.6% | 1.53 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 3 | 63.2% | 3 |
| Electric (0%) | 2 | 73.3% | 4 |
| Steam (0%) | 1 | 56.3% | 7 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 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 2002 Ford Focus vehicles fall between 59,543 and 92,360 miles.
2002 Ford Focus — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 6,805 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 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 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Ford Focus?
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