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Ford Focus ST Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford Focus ST Auto car check

Is the Ford Focus ST Auto reliable? We analysed 574 real MOT tests across 339 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 574 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.6%
Typical Mileage
23,423mi
Annual Mileage
6,721mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Ford Focus ST Auto is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Focus ST Auto.

Ford Focus ST Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ford Focus ST Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ford Focus ST Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ford Focus ST Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

85.4%
2023
90.3%
2022
86.8%
2021
86.2%
2020

Ford Focus ST Auto Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Ford Focus ST Auto models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 11
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 6
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 4
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3

Ford Focus ST Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ford Focus ST Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,881 mi/yr
Typical
6,721 mi/yr
Average
9,630 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,237 mi/yr

Ford Focus ST Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Focus ST Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 151 85.4% 14,438 20,050 31,252
2022 226 90.3% 15,474 22,080 29,411
2021 114 86.8% 20,017 26,069 36,160
2020 65 86.2% 16,654 25,187 35,063

How Long Does a Ford Focus ST Auto Last?

Based on 339 Ford Focus ST Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
2.6 years
Median
2.0 years

Ford Focus ST Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ford Focus ST Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
23,423 mi
75th Percentile
33,483 mi
95th Percentile
61,821 mi
Max Recorded
90,603 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Focus ST Auto

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2022

90.3% MOT pass rate from 226 tests

Year to avoid
2023

85.4% MOT pass rate from 151 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Focus ST Auto is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.3% across 226 tests. The 2023 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford Focus ST Auto Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Focus ST Auto THIS CAR 87.6% 574 23,423 mi — yrs
Ford Fiesta 72.8% 33,753,820 57,529 mi 34 yrs
Ford Focus 73.8% 28,316,889 72,500 mi 27 yrs
Ford Transit 68.7% 16,371,688 100,614 mi 37 yrs
Audi Q5 S Line 40 TDI QUATTRO S-a 97.4% 886 52,256 mi — yrs

Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Focus ST Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Ford Focus ST Auto you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Ford Focus ST Auto?

The Ford Focus ST Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.6% across 574 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Ford Focus ST Auto with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Ford Focus ST Auto owner drives around 6,721 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Ford Focus ST Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Focus ST Auto reliable?
Based on 574 MOT tests, the Ford Focus ST Auto has a 87.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ford Focus ST Auto?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Ford Focus ST Auto do per year?
The typical Ford Focus ST Auto does around 6,721 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Focus ST Auto last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Focus ST Auto?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ford Focus ST Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Focus ST Auto is 2022 with a 90.3% pass rate across 226 tests.