Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 910,992 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 £3,169 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £264/month or 40p/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
£264
est. annual total
New From
£30,000
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%
There are 74 known DVSA recalls affecting the Ford Focus. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/361
On affected vehicles there is a potential software issue causing the rear-view camera not to function as intended.
Build dates: 2022-11-11 to 2023-09-22
R/2025/361
On affected vehicles there is a potential software issue causing the rear-view camera not to function as intended.
Build dates: 2023-06-05 to 2024-04-04
R/2025/361
On affected vehicles there is a potential software issue causing the rear-view camera not to function as intended.
Build dates: 2022-01-17 to 2022-11-11
R/2025/361
On affected vehicles there is a potential software issue causing the rear-view camera not to function as intended.
Build dates: 2021-12-01 to 2022-01-20
R/2025/359
On affected vehicles a software problem may result in issues with the rear-view camera that reduce the driver’s view or with it remaining on after a reversing event.
Build dates: 2018-09-18 to 2018-09-18
+ 69 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
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.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Ford Focus are estimated at around £3,169 per year, or £264 per month.
Fuel
£1,232
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,212
/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.
The Focus achieves a combined fuel economy of around 42.8 mpg (52.3 mpg urban, 52.3 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOCUS | PETROL | 42.8 mpg | 1.4L |
| FOCUS | PETROL | 40.4 mpg | 1.6L |
| FOCUS | DIESEL | 52.3 mpg | 1.8L |
| FOCUS | PETROL | 37.2 mpg | 1.8L |
| FOCUS | LPG | 26.6 mpg | 1.8L |
| FOCUS | PETROL | 32.5 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 |
Starting from £30,000 new, a Ford Focus typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £22,500 | −£7,500 |
| 2 years | 64% | £19,150 | −£10,850 |
| 3 years | 56% | £16,850 | −£13,150 |
| 4 years | 50% | £15,150 | −£14,850 |
| 5 years | 46% | £13,950 | −£16,050 |
| 6 years | 43% | £12,950 | −£17,050 |
| 7 years | 41% | £12,200 | −£17,800 |
| 8 years | 39% | £11,550 | −£18,450 |
| 9 years | 37% | £11,000 | −£19,000 |
| 10 years | 35% | £10,450 | −£19,550 |
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.
There are currently 910,992 licensed and 103,297 SORN Focuss in the UK (1,014,289 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
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.
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.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Focus are estimated at around £3,169 per year (£264/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 74 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.
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.
A new Focus starts from around £30,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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