CarCostCheck

FORD FOCUS (2002)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 17,885 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£2,157

£180/month

MOT Pass Rate

69%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£265

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 12-25

1596cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

69% pass rate, £2157/year to run. 13 points below average.

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Petrol1596cc24 years old17,885 tests104k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1596cc)

~42 mpg

£1,137
Road Tax

Based on 1596cc

£265
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£700
Total per year£2,157
Per month£180/mo
Per week£41/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

69% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 13 points below the national average of 82%. It falls below the FORD brand average of 85%.

At 24 years old, 69% of FORD FOCUSs from 2002 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 17,885 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 103,596 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2002 cars290th of 403(top 72%)
Rank among FORD models1068th of 1,167(top 92%)
vs national average-13%(82% avg)
vs 2002 cars average-4%(73% avg)
vs FORD average-16%(85% avg)

Mileage Analysis

103,596

Average miles

vs

177,600

Expected for age

The average 2002 FORD FOCUS has 103,596 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 177,600 miles for a 24-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2022 model with a 92% MOT pass rate, while the 1999 model has the lowest at 65%. The 2002 sits between the two at 69%.

FORD FOCUS by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
202292%81023,275 mi
202190%20,44130,768 mi
202091%58,33635,324 mi
201989%93,80341,996 mi
201889%82,06647,654 mi
201789%109,24157,591 mi
201687%109,88066,788 mi
201585%129,33775,436 mi
201480%131,11983,264 mi
201378%132,29290,803 mi
201278%123,00897,038 mi
201175%115,331103,292 mi
201075%101,132104,468 mi
200974%105,193105,899 mi
200873%90,659109,505 mi
200773%77,121108,772 mi
200673%56,257109,516 mi
200571%41,794108,237 mi
200469%29,927105,988 mi
200368%22,31399,363 mi
200269%17,885103,596 mi
200168%10,188105,162 mi
200067%4,627104,538 mi
199965%4,250109,114 mi
199866%308105,722 mi

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About the 2002 FORD FOCUS

The 2002 FORD FOCUS is a small family car with a 1596cc petrol engine. 17,885 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it one of the most commonly tested cars on UK roads. Among all cars from 2002, the average MOT pass rate is 73%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 103,596 miles at 24 years old, FORD FOCUS owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2002 FORD FOCUS Fuel Costs

The 1596cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,137 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2002 FORD FOCUS?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,157 180/month), broken down as £1137 fuel, £265 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 69% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

FORD FOCUS Reliability Trend

Newer FORD FOCUSs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 15 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2002 FORD FOCUS

At 24 years old, the FORD FOCUS is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. If you're flexible on year, the 2022 model has the highest pass rate at 92%. With 17,885 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2002 FORD FOCUS's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Clutch Wear

Watch out

With an average of 104k miles, clutch replacement may be due (typical lifespan 60,000-100,000 miles). Budget £400-£800 for a new clutch kit.

Brake Discs and Pads

Medium risk

High-mileage cars often need brake disc replacement, not just pads. A full set of discs and pads costs £200-£500 per axle.

Higher Than Average Failure Rate

Watch out

With a 69% MOT pass rate, this model fails more often than most. Budget for unexpected repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2002 FORD FOCUS stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
FORD FOCUS(2002)69%£1137£265Grp 12-25£2157
MINI MINI(2004)71%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1827-£330
FORD FIESTA(2003)71%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£435
VOLKSWAGEN POLO(2004)67%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1922-£235
TOYOTA YARIS(2004)72%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722-£435

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Ford Models

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Related Guides

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