MOT performance
Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Golf: MOT pass rates compared
In 2023–2024, 68.0% of 1,956,630 Ford Focus MOT tests and 73.9% of 1,817,206 Volkswagen Golf tests passed first time — 6.0 points in favour of the Volkswagen Golf. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the Volkswagen Golf fails less often than the Ford Focus: 0.83× against 0.99× the national rate for comparable cars.
1,956,630 Ford Focus and 1,817,206 Volkswagen Golf MOT tests, 2023–2024
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus: first-time pass rate | 68.0% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 1,956,630 |
| Volkswagen Golf: first-time pass rate | 73.9% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 1,817,206 |
| Ford Focus: failures vs similar cars | -1% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Volkswagen Golf: failures vs similar cars | -17% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Ford Focus: dangerous defect | 9.4% | n = 1,956,630 |
| Volkswagen Golf: dangerous defect | 7.7% | n = 1,817,206 |
| Average age at test | 10.5 vs 10.5 years | Ford Focus vs Volkswagen Golf |
Why the raw pass rates can mislead
The Volkswagen Golf was tested at an older average age (10.5 years against 10.5), and older cars fail more often whatever they are. That is why the table above also shows failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel: it compares the models, not their fleets.
Failure areas side by side
Share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and in brackets how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = national average). The clearest difference is speedometer and driving controls, where the Ford Focus fails 2.1 times as often on an adjusted basis.
| Area | Ford Focus | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 5.5% (-30%) | 6.5% (-18%) |
| Steering | 1.3% (-41%) | 0.9% (-61%) |
| Suspension | 10.7% (-1%) | 9.2% (-12%) |
| Tyres | 7.8% (+13%) | 6.7% (-2%) |
| Road wheels | 0.5% (+9%) | 0.4% (-11%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 15.3% (+14%) | 8.6% (-32%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 3.3% (-20%) | 3.8% (-11%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 4.5% (-15%) | 3.4% (-34%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.6% (-12%) | 3.5% (-6%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.7% (-39%) | 1.3% (-1%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.4% (+4%) | 0.4% (-8%) |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% (+28%) | 0.0% (-40%) |
Pass rate at the same age
Comparing cars of the same age removes most of the fleet-age effect from the raw rates.
| Age at test | Ford Focus | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 years | 86.2% (n = 181,055) | 89.7% (n = 190,252) |
| 5-6 years | 83.4% (n = 220,469) | 86.8% (n = 251,971) |
| 7-8 years | 77.7% (n = 278,974) | 83.9% (n = 262,869) |
| 9-10 years | 66.5% (n = 293,597) | 77.8% (n = 235,369) |
| 11-12 years | 61.5% (n = 263,500) | 67.7% (n = 206,029) |
| 13-15 years | 57.0% (n = 337,502) | 61.6% (n = 271,444) |
| 16+ years | 54.4% (n = 334,678) | 56.4% (n = 346,031) |
Most common failure item
- Ford Focus · position lamp: not working (3.75% of tests)
- Volkswagen Golf · coil spring: fractured or broken (2.77% of tests)
MOT results reflect how cars are maintained as well as how they are built, so a gap between two models is a difference in test performance, not proof that one is more reliable. For one car, its own MOT history says more than any average.
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Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.