Ford Focus C-Max Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Ford Focus C-Max fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 28,307 MOT tests across 9 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
69%
Ford Focus C-Max pass rate
85%
Ford average
82%
All-model average
The Ford Focus C-Max has an average MOT pass rate of 69%, which is 16 points below the Ford average and 13 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Ford Focus C-Maxs pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 5 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
Check Your Ford Focus C-Max's MOT History
Enter your reg plate to see the specific issues found on your car, plus a health score and running cost estimate.
What the Ford Focus C-Max Fails Its MOT On
Of the 5,034 MOT tests on the Ford Focus C-Max that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
52%Cars and vans the same age: 50% · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
47%Cars and vans the same age: 40% · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
22%Cars and vans the same age: 16% (the Focus C-Max fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Brakes
21%Cars and vans the same age: 28% (the Focus C-Max fails on this less often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Body, chassis and structure
19%Cars and vans the same age: 20% · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect (16% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Position lamp: not working (13% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Coil spring: fractured or broken (9.6% of failed tests, suspension)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
Buying a Ford Focus C-Max? Check it first
See that car's own MOT history and mileage free, then check it for outstanding finance, an insurance write-off and a stolen record before you pay.
History check £4.99, one-off. No subscription.
Ford Focus C-Max Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Focus C-Max year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Ford Focus C-Max Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Ford Focus C-Max Running Costs
Want to know the full annual running costs for the Ford Focus C-Max? Including fuel, road tax, the MOT and predicted repairs based on MOT pass rates, plus an estimated insurance group.
View Ford Focus C-Max Running CostsCar history check for £4.99
Finance, stolen and write-off checks
Outstanding finance with the lender's details, stolen, write-off and keeper changes. One payment, no subscription.
Comparing checks first? See the cheapest car check in the UK and the best car check providers compared.
Ford Focus C-Max FAQ
What are the most common Ford Focus C-Max problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Ford Focus C-Max that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (52% of the 5,034 failed tests), suspension (47%) and tyres (22%). The single most common fault was "Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect" (16%). Across 28,307 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 69% ended in a pass.
Is the Ford Focus C-Max reliable?
The Ford Focus C-Max has an average MOT pass rate of 69%, from 28,307 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 4 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Ford Focus C-Max years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2004 (65% of 4,727 tests passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars), the 2005 (68% of 6,500 tests passed, against 73% for all 2005 cars) and the 2008 (69% of 1,164 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Ford Focus C-Max faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Ford Focus C-Max typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
Check a Specific Ford Focus C-Max
Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.
Related model: Ford Focus reliability and common problems
Other Ford Models
Common problems pages for other Ford models