2001 Ford Focus 1.6L Petrol · MJ51 AHO
2001 Ford Focus (1.6L, petrol). First registered 12 Dec 2001. MOT expired on 13 Oct 2022.
- Make & Model
- FORD FOCUS
- Year / Origin
- 2001 · Manchester & Merseyside
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 13 Oct 2022
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- —
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 1.6L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Archived Record
Registration no longer recorded by DVLA. This usually means the vehicle is now using a private plate.
AI-generated interpretation of this vehicle’s MOT record — not an official statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
This vehicle has not had an MOT in the past 5 years. Mechanical analysis was skipped.
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
MJ51 AHO Key Findings
- No MOT test records found for this registration
- MOT expired on 13/10/2022
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
MOT Status
No MOT history available
No MOT test records were found for this registration. DVSA’s digital archive only covers tests from 2005, so a vehicle that has not been tested since then may legitimately have no visible history.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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Known faults for Ford Ford Focus Mk1 (C170)
Our database tracks 6 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Below Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Buyer's Guide & Inspection Advisory
Expert automotive synthesis from historical MOT defect records and market benchmarks.
Our Verdict
This 24-year-old Ford Focus 1.6 petrol c
Given that this Focus is now 24 years old and the recorded MOT data is limited, treat any purchase as buying a project car rather than a daily driver. Insist on seeing every old MOT certificate and any service receipts the seller has, as the data here only shows a single test date in October 2021 with no defect details recorded for either the pass or the failure entry. The simultaneous pass and failure at 84,416 miles strongly suggests the vehicle was presented for test, failed, was repaired, and retested the same day — but without defect details you cannot know what was fixed.
Negotiate firmly on price. Parts for the Mk1 Focus 1.6 are cheap and widely available, but corrosion repairs and exhaust work are common on cars of this age and can quickly add up. Ask the seller specifically about any welding work, recent tyres, and whether the headlamps have been replaced or adjusted, as these are the three most common MOT failure categories for this model according to the aggregate data of over 1.09 million vehicles.
Be cautious about any seller who cannot demonstrate continuous MOT history back to the early 2000s. A car this old with a four-year gap in recorded MOT data (the last entry is October 2021) may have been off the road, exported and reimported, or simply untested for a period — each scenario changes its risk profile.
Fuel economy for the 1.6-litre petrol Focus of this era typically sits in the 35-40 mpg range for mixed driving, with urban figures closer to 28-32 mpg. At today's fuel prices, expect to budget around £1,400-£1,800 per year for fuel if covering 6,000-8,000 miles annually.
Road tax for a 1.6-litre petrol of this age falls into the cheap pre-2006 bracket, typically around £170-£200 annually depending on exact CO2 figures. Insurance should be relatively affordable in groups 6-8, perhaps £350-£500 per year for a standard driver. However, the real cost concern is maintenance — at 24 years old, even a well-sorted example will likely need £500-1,000 of work per year covering consumables, ageing rubber parts, and likely exhaust or suspension component renewal.
Estimated annual running cost is in the region of £2,400-£3,200 when combining fuel, tax, insurance, and a realistic maintenance allowance for a car of this age.
Begin with a thorough corrosion inspection — this is the single biggest MOT failure category for the Focus model generally, and an unrecorded 2021 test means you have no recent evidence of structural condition. Check the rear wheel arches, sills, underbody, suspension mounting points, and around the fuel filler very carefully, as these are common rot zones for Mk1 Focuses. Tap with a screwdriver or use a magnet to detect hidden filler work.
Inspect all four tyres for age (look for DOT date codes), tread depth, and even wear patterns. Tyres are the number one MOT failure reason for this model according to the aggregate data, and on a 24-year-old car the wheel bearings, suspension bushes, and shock absorbers will all be due or overdue for replacement. Check for oil leaks from the cam cover, sump, and gearbox, and listen for clonks from the front suspension over speed bumps.
Verify all electrical functions work correctly — headlights, indicators, brake lights, wipers, horn, and instrument cluster. Headlamp failure is the second most common MOT issue for this model, so check for blown bulbs, cracked lenses, and correct beam pattern. Also confirm the timing belt replacement history, as a 1.6 petrol Focus of this age is well past due for at least one belt change and a snapped belt can destroy the engine.
This green Ford Focus 1.6 petrol was first registered in December 2001, making it a 24-year-old vehicle that has accumulated 84,416 miles across its recorded MOT history. Only one MOT test outcome is recorded in the data provided (October 2021), which simultaneously shows both a pass and a failure at the same mileage — suggesting a retest scenario, though no defect details are recorded. The model's aggregate MOT pass rate of 79.1% sits below the typical 85% benchmark, and common failure reasons for this generation of Focus involve tyres, headlamps, and corrosion.
The Ford Focus 1.6 Mk1 has an aggregate MOT pass rate of 79.1% across over 1.09 million analysed vehicles, placing it below the typical pass rate benchmark and suggesting above-average rates of test failures. The most common issues relate to tyres, headlamps, and corrosion.
Reviewed by the IsItAGoodCar editorial team — Verified automotive analysis synthesized from official vehicle registries.
Data Sources
DVSA
Official MOT test logs & failure reasons
DVLA
Tax, registration & powertrain specs
Experian
Finance, stolen markers & total loss
AI Analysis
Historical fault & advisory patterns
MOT Status
No MOT history available
No MOT test records were found for this registration. DVSA’s digital archive only covers tests from 2005, so a vehicle that has not been tested since then may legitimately have no visible history.
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FORD FOCUS Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
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Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 2001 model year cars.
- Rear Suspension Control Arm RustSerious
The pressed steel lower transverse control arms, camber links, and track control arms of the pioneering multi-link 'Control Blade' rear suspension are fabricated from thin-gauge steel that is highly vulnerable to corrosion. Trapped water and road salt inside the boxed sections cause structural rot from the inside out, often flaking away until the arms bend or snap under cornering loads. Pivot bolts also seize solid inside the inner rubber bushing sleeves, requiring cutting with reciprocating saws during replacement.
- Speed Sensor (VSS) FailureModerate
The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) mounted on top of the IB5 manual gearbox fails due to heat cycling and internal electrical degradation. When the speed signal cuts out intermittently or completely, the speedometer needle abruptly drops to zero, and the digital odometer screen displays dashes. Crucially, because the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) uses the VSS reading to manage idle speed during deceleration, a dying sensor causes the engine to stall unexpectedly when coasting or braking to a halt.
- Washer Jet Seal Water Ingress & MisfireModerate
The bonnet-mounted windscreen washer jets feature thin foam sealing washers that degrade and shrink over time under sun and weather exposure. Rainwater and washer fluid leak past the nozzles, dripping straight down into the deep central spark plug recesses of the Zetec-SE cylinder head. The standing water causes severe electrolytic corrosion of the spark plugs and high-tension leads, tracking ignition spark to earth and resulting in sharp engine misfires, stuttering under load, and ruined coil packs.
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