Which model group has the lower recorded MOT failure rate: Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf?

Across 8,150,846 recorded MOT tests, the Volkswagen Golf group has a 5.7 percentage point lower historical failure rate. The Ford Focus group rate is 30.8% and the Volkswagen Golf group rate is 25.1%. These population statistics do not predict an individual vehicle's result.

What are the main MOT differences between Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf?

The Ford Focus has a 30.8% overall MOT failure rate (4,165,307 tests) while the Volkswagen Golf has 25.1% (3,985,539 tests). The highest complete component category for the Ford Focus is lamps & electrics, while for the Volkswagen Golf it is lamps & electrics.

Should I buy a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf?

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 Volkswagen Golf — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Ford Focus

30.8%

failure rate from 4,165,307 tests

3.9pp above the dataset reference (26.9%)

Volkswagen Golf

25.1%

failure rate from 3,985,539 tests

1.8pp below the dataset reference (26.9%)

Recorded-rate result: The Volkswagen Golf model group has a 5.7 percentage point lower historical failure rate than the Ford Focus group in this dataset.

Failure Rate by Vehicle Age

How the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf compare across different age groups:

Age	Ford Focus	Volkswagen Golf	Difference
0-2 years	10.5%	9.6%	Volkswagen Golf +0.9pp
3-5 years	13.1%	10.8%	Volkswagen Golf +2.2pp
6-10 years	26.4%	18.1%	Volkswagen Golf +8.2pp
11-15 years	40.0%	35.2%	Volkswagen Golf +4.8pp
15+ years	46.3%	43.1%	Volkswagen Golf +3.2pp

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 Volkswagen Golf

7.3%

Lamps & Electrics

4.5%

5.4%

Suspension

4.5%

3.6%

Tyres

3.2%

2.7%

Brakes

3.3%

2.1%

Visibility

1.9%

1.7%

Body & Chassis

2.0%

0.7%

Steering

0.5%

Component	Ford Focus	Volkswagen Golf	Lower rate
Lamps & Electrics	7.3%	4.5%	Volkswagen Golf
Suspension	5.4%	4.5%	Volkswagen Golf
Tyres	3.6%	3.2%	Volkswagen Golf
Brakes	2.7%	3.3%	Ford Focus
Visibility	2.1%	1.9%	Volkswagen Golf
Body & Chassis	1.7%	2.0%	Ford Focus
Steering	0.7%	0.5%	Volkswagen Golf

Which Has the Lower Recorded Failure Rate?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 8,150,846 tests between these two models, the Volkswagen Golf group has a 5.7 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The Volkswagen Golf group rate is 25.1% compared with 30.8% for the Ford Focus 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 Volkswagen Golf 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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