Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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 2002 Ford Focus vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% 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 2002 Ford Focus reliable?

Based on MOT data from 154,747 vehicles, the 2002 Ford Focus has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Ford Focus?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Ford Focus are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (95% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (88.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69.3% 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 2002 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 (2002)

154,747 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.6% first-time pass rate

2002 Ford Focus

CarHunch analysed 154,747 real MOT records for the 2002 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 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.

The 2002 Ford Focus has a below-average first-time pass rate (71.6% 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

71.6%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

33.7%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.84

Over 16.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

76k

Middle half: 60k–92k

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 21.2 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 154,747 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 154,747 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 95%

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 45.6%

Oil leak · Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Brake wear 37.8%

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

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

Suspension & steering 31.7%

Offside Rear coil spring corroded

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

Lighting 31.2%

Nearside Stop lamp not working

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

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 154,747 Ford Focus cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Ford Focus

Based on MOT data from 154,747 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.7% 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.
🔍 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 (80%)	124,507	71.7%	4.92
Diesel (20%)	30,182	70.9%	4.53

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 2002 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.

75,691

typical

59,543

low mileage

92,360

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Ford Focus vehicles fall between 59,543 and 92,360 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 59,543 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.

✓ 59,543–92,360 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Ford Focuss sit.

⚠ Over 124,686 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Ford Focus — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2002 Ford Focuss are still active.

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.
* 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

16.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.84

Avg failures per vehicle

21.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on