Ford Focus vs Honda Civic: which fails its MOT less?
Allowing for age, the Ford Focus and Honda Civic fail their MOT about as often.
- of Ford Focus MOTs passed in 2024
- 74.8%of Ford Focus MOTs passed in 2024
Honda Civic: 73.9%
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 1,188,497 tests
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Which fails less for its age?
Allowing for age, there is no practical difference (under 5 points apart): MOT Risk Index 102.7 for the Ford Focus, 98.1 for the Honda Civic (100 = normal for its age).
| Measure | Ford Focus | Honda Civic | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passed at the first attempt, % | 67.8 | 66.3 | 2024 |
| MOT Risk Index (100 = normal) | 102.7 | 98.1 | 2024 |
| 95% interval of the index | 102.4–103.0 | 97.5–98.6 | 2024 |
| Rank among 761 models (1 = fails least for its age) | 482 | 431 | 2024 |
| First tests | 916,041 | 272,456 | 2024 |
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After defects were fixed at the test centre
74.8% of Ford Focus tests and 73.9% of Honda Civic tests passed, including defects fixed during the test. This is a different outcome from passing at the first attempt.
What explains the difference?
The clearest difference is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: against its own class and age, the Ford Focus runs +0.0 items per 100 tests and the Honda Civic +8.7, so the Ford Focus has 8.7 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 8.6 to 8.8).
Each model is compared with its own class and age; the fleets can differ in mileage and use.
More detail
Dangerous defects and advisory items
| Measure | Ford Focus | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects per 100 tests | 13.2 | 12.7 |
| Advisory items per 100 tests | 143.8 | 141.7 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data, 2019–2024. A test can record several items. CSV
At what age does one of them fail more?
The Honda Civic fails less at 14 of 17 ages where both are tested, and the gap points the same way at every age where it is clear. Across the 4 yearly tests from age 4 to 7, the gaps add up to 12.9 extra failed tests per 100 for the Ford Focus (a sum of yearly rates, not the chance of one car failing).
| Age | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | +2.2 | +1.8 to +2.6 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 4 | +0.9 | +0.5 to +1.3 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 5 | +1.5 | +1.1 to +1.9 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 6 | +4.2 | +3.8 to +4.6 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 7 | +6.3 | +5.9 to +6.7 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 8 | +6.8 | +6.3 to +7.3 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 9 | +5.9 | +5.5 to +6.4 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 10 | +5.1 | +4.6 to +5.6 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 11 | +2.6 | +2.1 to +3.1 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 12 | +0.6 | +0.1 to +1.0 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 13 | −0.3 | −0.7 to +0.2 | not distinguishable |
| 14 | +0.0 | −0.4 to +0.5 | not distinguishable |
| 15 | +0.5 | −0.0 to +0.9 | not distinguishable |
| 16 | +1.5 | +1.0 to +2.0 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 17 | +2.3 | +1.8 to +2.9 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 18 | +3.0 | +2.4 to +3.6 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 19 | +3.7 | +3.0 to +4.5 | Honda Civic fails less |
| Age band | Ages included | Ford Focus, % | Honda Civic, % | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | 3–5 | 13.4 | 11.9 | +1.5 | +1.4 to +1.6 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 6–10 | 6–10 | 27.9 | 22.3 | +5.6 | +5.5 to +5.8 | Honda Civic fails less |
| 11+ | 11–20+ | 43.8 | 43.1 | +0.7 | +0.6 to +0.8 | Honda Civic fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,607,129 (initial tests at shared ages) · Method: difference of two proportions per age, Bonferroni-corrected for 17 ages; age bands pool the published ages with an unadjusted 95% interval, and the same car can appear at more than one age, so that interval is somewhat narrow · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Where do their MOT failures diverge?
The clearest difference is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: against its own class and age, the Ford Focus runs +0.0 items per 100 tests and the Honda Civic +8.7, so the Ford Focus has 8.7 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 8.6 to 8.8).
| Component group | Ford Focus vs its class | Honda Civic vs its class | Gap, Ford Focus minus Honda Civic | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | +0.0 | +8.7 | −8.7 | −8.8 to −8.6 | Ford Focus fails less |
| Steering | −1.3 | +2.0 | −3.3 | −3.3 to −3.2 | Ford Focus fails less |
| Body, chassis, structure | −0.7 | −3.6 | +2.9 | +2.8 to +2.9 | Honda Civic fails less |
| Brakes | −3.8 | −1.5 | −2.4 | −2.4 to −2.3 | Ford Focus fails less |
| Tyres | +1.5 | −0.5 | +2.0 | +1.9 to +2.0 | Honda Civic fails less |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | −0.2 | −1.7 | +1.5 | +1.5 to +1.5 | Honda Civic fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 7,923,014 (initial tests) · Method: each model's failure items per 100 tests against the rate expected for its own class and age; Poisson interval; the age standard leaves the model out and is treated as fixed; items in the same test are treated as independent, so the interval is slightly narrow · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If one fails, which is more likely to fail again?
A failure carries about the same extra risk of failing again on both: 13.3 percentage points on the Ford Focus, 12.7 on the Honda Civic.
| Measure | Ford Focus | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| After a failed test, % | 40.4 | 40.1 |
| After a passed test, % | 27.2 | 27.4 |
| Extra risk carried by a failure, pp | 13.3 | 12.7 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 543,952 (tests after a fail) · Method: test chains of the same vehicles; cars sold or scrapped after a fail drop out · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What do six years of MOTs show about the two?
The biggest gap in advisories turning into fails is lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 22.2% on the Ford Focus against 35.2% on the Honda Civic failed on the same item at the next MOT.
| Component | Ford Focus | Honda Civic | Difference, pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 22.2 | 35.2 | −13.0 |
| Suspension | 22.5 | 27.6 | −5.1 |
| Brakes | 11.1 | 14.0 | −3.0 |
| Visibility | 11.6 | 13.2 | −1.6 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.6 | 7.9 | −1.3 |
| Steering | 13.7 | 12.5 | +1.2 |
| Tyres | 10.9 | 9.8 | +1.1 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 14.0 | 13.0 | +1.0 |
| Road wheels | 1.1 | 0.8 | +0.3 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 3.7 | 3.5 | +0.1 |
| Measure | Ford Focus | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| Repaired and passed the same day | 46.3% | 43.6% |
| Passed 1–10 days later | 51.1% | 53.2% |
| Median retest delay | 1.0 days | 1.0 days |
| Failures per 10,000 miles | 0.515 | 0.548 |
| Three-test clean streak | 33.2% | 32.9% |
| Same advisory repeated 3+ times | 34.6% | 35.5% |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,268,982 (tracked advisories) · Method: same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT; common publishable components only · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Recalls, other countries and running costs, side by side
DVSA lists 96 recall campaigns matched to the Ford Focus and 76 to the Honda Civic; more campaigns do not by themselves mean a less reliable car. Abroad, compare each model with that country's own average, because pass rates do not carry across rulebooks. Repair bills are catalogue estimates, not quotes.
| Measure | Ford Focus | Honda Civic |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns listed | 96 | 76 |
| Finland Katsastus: fails, % (national average 26.3%) | 28.1 (44,138 inspections) | 22.2 (15,098 inspections) |
| Netherlands APK: fails, % (national average 50.8%) | 51.8 (120,313 inspections) | 57.1 (20,019 inspections) |
| Norway PKK: fails, % (national average 33.7%) | 36.7 (20,894 inspections) | 37.6 (5,033 inspections) |
| Expected MOT repair bill, £ (estimate) | £85 | £116 |
| Repair bill range, £ (catalogue range, not a 95% interval) | £85–£162 | £116–£221 |
Source: DVSA vehicle recalls register (OGL v3.0); Statens vegvesen PKK (CC BY 4.0), Traficom Katsastus (CC BY 4.0), RDW APK (CC0), adapted; UK repair price catalogue · Window: register as published; inspections 2024 · n = 225,495 (inspections abroad) · Method: recall campaigns matched by make and model, licensed-fleet denominator where available; abroad, samples below 500 suppressed and each model set against that country's own average, with no difference taken across countries; repair bill = chance of failing each item × its most common UK repair price, a catalogue estimate · Updated: 25 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV · licences and full notice
How to cite this comparison
MOT Risk Index (2026). Ford Focus vs Honda Civic: MOT statistics 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 25 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/compare/ford-focus-vs-honda-civic/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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Ford Focus vs Honda Civic: quick answers
Is the Ford Focus or the Honda Civic more reliable?
Allowing for age, there is no practical difference (under 5 points apart): MOT Risk Index 102.7 for the Ford Focus, 98.1 for the Honda Civic (100 = normal for its age).
Does the Ford Focus or the Honda Civic fail more MOTs?
32.2% of Ford Focus first tests and 33.7% of Honda Civic first tests failed in 2024. These raw rates do not allow for age; the MOT Risk Index does.
Which should I buy, the Ford Focus or the Honda Civic?
On MOT reliability neither is a practical winner. Choose the individual car with the cleaner MOT history and fewer repeated advisories.