Ford Focus — Buyer's Guide
Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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Ford Focus overview
With 877,764 currently licensed in the UK, the Ford Focus is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Focus 5 stars in 2019, with 96% adult occupant and 87% child protection scores.
It has a 76.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,083 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £340/month or 55p/mile.
Theft risk is rated low at 3.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
76.5%
980,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£340
est. annual total
New From
£29,575
Safety rating
Euro NCAP tested the Focus in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
96%
Child Occupant
87%
Pedestrian
72%
Safety Assist
75%
Safety recalls
There are 96 known DVSA recalls affecting the Ford Focus. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/237
Affected vehicles may have been repaired using a coolant pump with a potential issue. This issue may lead to incorrect engine timing resulting in an engine failure causing a sudden loss of power without prior warning. The engine cannot be restarted.
Build dates: 2020-10-05 to 2020-10-05
R/2026/237
Affected vehicles may have been repaired using a coolant pump with a potential issue. This issue may lead to incorrect engine timing resulting in an engine failure causing a sudden loss of power without prior warning. The engine cannot be restarted.
Build dates: 2021-03-02 to 2021-03-02
R/2026/237
Affected vehicles may have been repaired using a coolant pump with a potential issue. This issue may lead to incorrect engine timing resulting in an engine failure causing a sudden loss of power without prior warning. The engine cannot be restarted.
Build dates: 2022-06-01 to 2022-11-07
R/2026/237
Affected vehicles may have been repaired using a coolant pump with a potential issue. This issue may lead to incorrect engine timing resulting in an engine failure causing a sudden loss of power without prior warning. The engine cannot be restarted.
Build dates: 2023-04-24 to 2023-06-20
R/2026/181
Affected vehicles may experience a loss of emergency call system (eCall) functionality which impacts both automatic and manual eCall events.
Build dates: 2019-10-18 to 2022-10-21
+ 91 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Reliability & MOT
Based on 980,000 MOT tests, the Focus has a first-time pass rate of 76.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Focus is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
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Running costs
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Ford Focus are estimated at around £4,083 per year, or £340 per month.
Fuel
£2,163
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,195
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
Fuel economy
The Focus achieves a combined fuel economy of around 26.6 mpg (14.9 mpg urban, 34.9 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOCUS | LPG | 26.6 mpg | 1.8L |
| FOCUS | PETROL | 30.1 mpg | 2.0L |
| FOCUS , MODEL YEAR PRE 2013.30 | PETROL | 58.9 mpg | 1.0L |
| FOCUS , MODEL YEAR PRE 2013.30 | DIESEL | 67.3 mpg | 1.6L |
| FOCUS , MODEL YEAR PRE 2013.30 | PETROL | 47.9 mpg | 1.6L |
| FOCUS , MODEL YEAR PRE 2013.30 | DIESEL | 57.6 mpg | 2.0L |
| FOCUS , MODEL YEAR PRE 2013.30 | PETROL | 39.2 mpg | 2.0L |
| FOCUS (PRIOR MODEL) | PETROL | 30.1 mpg | 2.0L |
Depreciation
Starting from £29,575 new, a Ford Focus typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £22,200 | −£7,375 |
| 2 years | 64% | £18,850 | −£10,725 |
| 3 years | 56% | £16,600 | −£12,975 |
| 4 years | 50% | £14,950 | −£14,625 |
| 5 years | 46% | £13,750 | −£15,825 |
| 6 years | 43% | £12,800 | −£16,775 |
| 7 years | 41% | £12,000 | −£17,575 |
| 8 years | 39% | £11,400 | −£18,175 |
| 9 years | 37% | £10,850 | −£18,725 |
| 10 years | 35% | £10,300 | −£19,275 |
Theft risk
The Focus has a theft rate of 3.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
How common is the Focus?
There are currently 877,764 licensed and 107,887 SORN Focuss in the UK (985,651 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ford Focus reliable?
The Focus has a 76.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 980,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
How safe is the Ford Focus?
Euro NCAP awarded the Focus 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 72% for vulnerable road users, and 75% for safety assist features.
How much does a Ford Focus cost to run?
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Focus are estimated at around £4,083 per year (£340/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
Are there any recalls on the Ford Focus?
There are 96 known safety recalls affecting the Focus. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
Is the Ford Focus likely to be stolen?
The Focus has a theft rate of 3.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
How much does a new Ford Focus cost?
A new Focus starts from around £29,575. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
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