Ford Focus (2004)
2004 Ford Focus
CarHunch analysed 107,707 real MOT records for the 2004 Ford Focus. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2004 Ford Focus has a first-time MOT pass rate of 72.4%, which is 7.6 percentage points below the UK average—a meaningful gap that reflects age-related wear. More concerning, 39.1% of these vehicles have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history, which is substantially higher than typical and should be a red flag for any prospective buyer.
At nearly 78,000 miles on average, these cars show typical mileage for their age, but the real issue emerges in the failure pattern: an average of 4.95 failures per vehicle and 24.8 advisories suggest accumulated mechanical problems rather than isolated faults. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on brake systems, suspension, and emissions equipment, as the high dangerous defect rate indicates these areas are common failure points on this generation.
What to check before buying a 2004 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.
- ⚠️ 39.1% 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 (77%) | 83,420 | 72.8% | 5.06 |
| Diesel (22%) | 24,175 | 71% | 4.6 |
| LPG (0%) | 96 | 72.3% | 4.34 |
| Other (0%) | 11 | 74.9% | 1.09 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 4 | 62.6% | 6.75 |
| Diesel (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 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 2004 Ford Focus vehicles fall between 55,776 and 86,600 miles.
2004 Ford Focus — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 11,435 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (12% 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 — 2004 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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88.7%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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84.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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61.8%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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55.8%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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41.4%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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33.6%
Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
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31.3%
Oil leak, but not excessive
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30.3%
Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004. 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.