Which model group has the lower recorded MOT failure rate: Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra?

Across 7,155,810 recorded MOT tests, the Ford Focus group has a 2.4 percentage point lower historical failure rate. The Ford Focus group rate is 30.8% and the Vauxhall Astra group rate is 33.2%. These population statistics do not predict an individual vehicle's result.

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 highest complete component category 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?

This aggregate MOT comparison is not a buying recommendation. It describes recorded model-group outcomes, not the condition or likely result of a particular vehicle. Check the specific vehicle's MOT history and condition before deciding.

Ford Focus vs Vauxhall Astra — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Ford Focus

30.8%

failure rate from 4,165,307 tests

3.9pp above the dataset reference (26.9%)

Vauxhall Astra

33.2%

failure rate from 2,990,503 tests

6.3pp above the dataset reference (26.9%)

Recorded-rate result: The Ford Focus model group has a 2.4 percentage point lower historical failure rate than the Vauxhall Astra group in this dataset.

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

Recorded Component Comparison

Side-by-side aggregate rates for MOT tests involving each component category. These are group statistics, not a diagnosis of either vehicle.

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	Lower rate
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 Has the Lower Recorded Failure Rate?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 7,155,810 tests between these two models, the Ford Focus group has a 2.4 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The Ford Focus group rate is 30.8% compared with 33.2% for the Vauxhall Astra group.

The age-band table shows whether that gap is consistent across the available groups. The highest recorded component category is lamps & electrics for the Ford Focus group and lamps & electrics for the Vauxhall Astra group. Category rates show historical involvement in failed tests; they do not identify a fault on a particular vehicle.

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 percentages are weighted recorded category rates, not probabilities for an individual vehicle. The checked-in dataset contains 148,509,908 tests and 39,969,903 failures. Vehicle condition and history are not captured by these group comparisons.

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