Ford Focus 2004: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2004 Ford Focus include Anti-roll bars — Linkage (rear) (~20.6× peers) and Linkage pins and bushes (rear) (~16.7× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (5,495 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 5,495 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Anti-roll bars — Linkage (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 20.6× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 195 failed first-attempt tests; 3.5% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 195 failures · ×20.6 vs similar cars · 3.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Linkage pins and bushes (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 16.7× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 138 failed first-attempt tests; 2.5% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 138 failures · ×16.7 vs similar cars · 2.5% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Suspension arm (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 14.2× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 261 failed first-attempt tests; 4.7% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 261 failures · ×14.2 vs similar cars · 4.7% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Anti-roll bars — Linkage (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage
|
Rear | 195 | ×20.6 | 3.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Linkage pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes
|
Rear | 138 | ×16.7 | 2.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Suspension arm (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm
|
Rear | 261 | ×14.2 | 4.7% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 4 |
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
|
Rear | 157 | ×4.2 | 2.9% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 5 |
Rear fog lamp
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp
|
Any | 364 | ×3.1 | 6.6% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 6 |
Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
|
Front | 132 | ×2.8 | 2.4% | Possible elevated fault |
| 7 |
Rear fog lamp (rear)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Rear fog lamp > Rear fog lamp
|
Rear | 172 | ×2.7 | 3.1% | Possible elevated fault |
| 8 |
Prescribed areas (rear)
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > Seat belts > Prescribed areas
|
Rear | 125 | ×2.5 | 2.3% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Linkage pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Linkage pins and bushes
|
Rear | 164 | ×11.6 | 3.0% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Suspension arm (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm
|
Rear | 772 | ×6.2 | 14.0% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Prescribed areas (rear)
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems > Seat belts > Prescribed areas
|
Rear | 62 | ×4.1 | 1.1% | Possible elevated fault |
| 4 |
Brake fluid
Brakes > Hydraulic systems > Brake fluid
|
Any | 34 | ×4.0 | 0.6% | Elevated vs peers |
| 5 |
Exhaust system (front)
Body, chassis, structure > Exhaust system
|
Front | 318 | ×3.6 | 5.8% | Possible elevated fault |
| 6 |
Anti-roll bar (rear)
Suspension > Anti-roll bars > Anti-roll bar
|
Rear | 97 | ×3.4 | 1.8% | Elevated vs peers |
| 7 |
Pins and bushes (rear)
Suspension > Suspension arms > Pins and bushes
|
Rear | 352 | ×3.4 | 6.4% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 8 |
Suspension arm
Suspension > Suspension arms > Suspension arm
|
Any | 53 | ×2.7 | 1.0% | Elevated vs peers |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.