The most recent MOT record dates to 9 July 2013, meaning this 1999 Ford Focus has held no valid test certificate for over twelve years as of June 2026. That alone makes its current roadworthiness status unknown and legally unverified. Looking at the maintenance trend across the available history, the pattern is not one of steady upkeep. The car passed cleanly in July 2011 at 138,499 miles and again in June 2012 at 150,980 miles, but by the June 2013 failure at 163,073 miles a cluster of serious defects had emerged: inoperative power steering, excessive turbo smoke emissions, major oil leaks, a soaked and deteriorated auxiliary drive belt, insecure headlamp aim, and degraded suspension ball joint dust covers. A retest twelve days later on 9 July 2013 at 163,206 miles still recorded major oil leaks and multiple advisories. The trajectory from a clean 2012 pass to a heavily faulted 2013 failure suggests mechanical neglect accelerated in the final recorded period.
The mileage accumulation tells a notable story. Between the July 2011 pass at 138,499 miles and the June 2013 failure at 163,073 miles, the car covered roughly 24,574 miles in just under two years, averaging around 12,000 miles annually, well above the 6,045 miles-per-year lifetime average implied by the 163,206-mile total over twenty-seven years. This spike in usage aligns with the sudden appearance of oil leaks, belt deterioration, and turbo smoke issues, all consistent with a high-mileage period where routine fluid and ancillary component changes may have been deferred. The mileage then appears to have plateaued, with no further tests recorded after July 2013, raising the possibility the vehicle has stood unused or been kept off the road for over a decade.
A buyer inspecting this vehicle in person should focus on the areas the MOT record repeatedly flagged. The power steering was inoperative in June 2013, so the rack, pump, and associated pipework need thorough functional and leak checks. The major oil leaks and oil-soaked auxiliary drive belt point to potential failure of crankshaft seals, cam cover gaskets, or turbo oil feed and return lines, all of which should be examined with the engine running and under load. The turbocharger's excessive smoke output demands a compression test, boost leak inspection, and assessment of the exhaust gas recirculation and evaporative emission systems. Suspension components warrant close attention: the trailing arm bushes, anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, and lower arm ball joint dust covers were all deteriorating or compromised, and twelve-plus years of age and possible storage will only have accelerated rubber perishing and corrosion. The distorted bead rims noted on three wheels in 2013 should be checked for cracks or slow leaks, and the braking system, untested since 2013, requires inspection of calipers, discs, pads, and hydraulic lines for seizure or corrosion. Given the complete absence of any MOT record since mid-2013, a full pre-purchase inspection by a qualified technician is essential before any commitment.