Ford Focus (2017)
2017 Ford Focus
CarHunch analysed 66,941 real MOT records for the 2017 Ford Focus. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2017 Ford Focus punches well above the UK average with an 89.1% first-time pass rate—9 points higher than the national baseline—though petrol versions edge out diesels by 2.6 percentage points (90.0% versus 87.4%). The real concern is that 27.5% of these vehicles have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, which is significantly elevated and worth factoring into your inspection checklist.
At 37,265 miles median for a seven-year-old car, these Focuses show moderate use and aren't yet high-mileage concerns. With an average of 0.87 failures and 6.0 advisories per test, common wear items rather than structural problems are what typically need attention—so budget for consumables like brakes and suspension components, but get a pre-purchase inspection focused specifically on safety-critical systems given the dangerous defect rate.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.7 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2017 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.
- ⚠️ 27.5% 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 (64%) | 43,096 | 90.1% | 0.8 |
| Diesel (36%) | 23,843 | 87.4% | 1.01 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 80% | 1 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2017 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 2017 Ford Focus vehicles fall between 27,335 and 48,553 miles.
2017 Ford Focus — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 60,966 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 93% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2017 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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43.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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41.5%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
-
31.6%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
-
20.4%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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18.9%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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17.6%
Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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17.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
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15%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017. 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.