What are the main MOT differences between Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra?

The Ford Focus has a 30.8% overall MOT failure rate (4,165,307 tests) while the Vauxhall Astra has 33.2% (2,990,503 tests). The top failure area for the Ford Focus is lamps & electrics, while for the Vauxhall Astra it is lamps & electrics.

Should I buy a Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra?

From an MOT reliability standpoint, the Ford Focus has a lower failure rate. However, MOT pass rates are just one factor — also consider insurance costs, fuel economy, running costs and personal preference. Use AutoSafe's free prediction tool to check a specific vehicle by registration.

Ford Focus vs Vauxhall Astra — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Q: Which is more reliable, Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra?

Based on 7,155,810 MOT tests, the Ford Focus is more reliable with a 2.4 percentage point lower failure rate. The Ford Focus has a 30.8% failure rate while the Vauxhall Astra has 33.2%.

Ford Focus

30.8%

failure rate from 4,165,307 tests

2.8pp above UK avg (28%)

Vauxhall Astra

33.2%

failure rate from 2,990,503 tests

5.2pp above UK avg (28%)

Verdict: The Ford Focus is more reliable based on MOT data, with a 2.4 percentage point lower failure rate than the Vauxhall Astra.

Failure Rate by Vehicle Age

How the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra compare across different age groups:

Age	Ford Focus	Vauxhall Astra	Difference
0-2 years	10.5%	10.9%	Ford Focus +0.4pp
3-5 years	13.1%	15.2%	Ford Focus +2.1pp
6-10 years	26.4%	28.0%	Ford Focus +1.6pp
11-15 years	40.0%	41.1%	Ford Focus +1.1pp
15+ years	46.3%	46.7%	Ford Focus +0.4pp

Component Risk Comparison

Side-by-side breakdown of which MOT failure areas each model is weaker in:

Ford Focus Component Vauxhall Astra

7.3%

Lamps & Electrics

6.6%

5.4%

Suspension

6.2%

3.6%

Tyres

3.7%

2.7%

Brakes

4.6%

2.1%

Visibility

2.8%

1.7%

Body & Chassis

2.2%

0.7%

Steering

0.6%

Component	Ford Focus	Vauxhall Astra	Better
Lamps & Electrics	7.3%	6.6%	Vauxhall Astra
Suspension	5.4%	6.2%	Ford Focus
Tyres	3.6%	3.7%	Ford Focus
Brakes	2.7%	4.6%	Ford Focus
Visibility	2.1%	2.8%	Ford Focus
Body & Chassis	1.7%	2.2%	Ford Focus
Steering	0.7%	0.6%	Vauxhall Astra

Which Is More Reliable: Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 7,155,810 tests between these two models, the Ford Focus comes out ahead with a 2.4 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The Ford Focus fails 30.8% of the time compared to the Vauxhall Astra's 33.2%.

However, the gap between these models varies by vehicle age. Younger examples of both models tend to have more similar pass rates, while differences can become more pronounced as vehicles age and accumulate wear. Component-level data shows each model has different weak spots — the Ford Focus's top risk area is lamps & electrics while the Vauxhall Astra's is lamps & electrics. Knowing your model's specific weaknesses helps you target pre-MOT checks where they matter most.

Explore Each Model in Detail

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Data methodology: Failure rates are weighted averages across all mileage bands, calculated from official DVSA MOT test records. Only age/mileage combinations with 100+ tests are included. Component risks represent the probability of failure in each specific area. Data covers 142 million MOT tests across the UK. Comparisons are based on aggregate statistics and individual vehicle condition will vary.

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