Ford Kuga MOT pass rate and common problems
Ford Kugas fail their MOT less often than other cars of the same age.
- Failed at the first attempt
- 22.0%failed at the first attempt in 2024
Average for cars of the same age: 24.4%
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 254,154 tests
Check a Ford Kuga by registration
Ford Kuga common problems: what should I check before buying?
The faults recorded most often at Ford Kuga MOTs in 2019–2024, per 100 tests.
- Tyre tread below the legal limit3.42Dangerous
What to check: Check the tread across every tyre with a gauge; wear on one edge points to a tracking fault.
- Brake pads or shoes dangerously thin3.08Dangerous
What to check: Look through the wheels at the pads and discs, listen for grinding, and ask when they were last replaced.
- Broken or weakened suspension spring2.04Major
What to check: Look behind each wheel at the coil springs for a snapped end, and check the car sits level from side to side.
- Sidelight, tail or daytime light out1.97Major
What to check: Walk round the car with the lights on and check every sidelight, tail light and daytime running light.
- Wiper missing or not clearing the screen1.85Major
What to check: Wet the screen and run the wipers: they should clear the glass in front of the driver without streaks or juddering.
One test can record several defects, so this is not the share of Ford Kugas.
Each tip applies only if the car you are looking at has that fault in its own MOT history.
Check a Ford Kuga by registration
Which Ford Kuga years should I avoid?
2012 is the Ford Kuga year that fails its MOT most for its age; 2017 fails least.
Fails more for its age: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019.
Fails less for its age: 2013, 2017.
Years without published figures
- 2024, 2025, 2026
These registration years do not need an MOT yet. Ask the seller for the service history.
- 2021, 2022, 2023
Our figures end in 2024, before these cars had enough MOTs to compare.
Year means the year the car was first registered, as DVSA records it. It may differ from the year it was built.
How does the Ford Kuga compare with similar cars?
3 of 8 similar models fail less often for their age than the Ford Kuga.
This is a different comparison from the one at the top. There, the Ford Kuga is measured against all cars of the same age. Here, it sits among similar models. Both can be true.
| Model | MOT Risk Index |
|---|---|
| Ford Kuga | 90.2 |
| Nissan Qashqai | 118.2 |
| Kia Sportage | 104.9 |
| Ford Mondeo | 98.8 |
| Skoda Octavia | 89.7 |
| Audi A4 | 87.4 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 92.4 |
| Honda Civic | 98.1 |
| Audi A3 | 84.8 |
How do Ford Kugas hold up as they get older?
First-time MOT failures on Ford Kugas go from 11.6% at age 3 to 41.2% at age 16.
| Age at MOT (years) | Ford Kuga failed (%) | All cars failed (%) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11.6 (rough estimate) | 12.4 | 95 |
| 13 | 38.7 | 38.2 | 8,772 |
| 14 | 40.8 | 40.4 | 9,204 |
| 15 | 40.3 | 41.6 | 7,304 |
| 16 | 41.2 | 43.1 | 2,505 |
Do advisories on Ford Kugas turn into fails at the next MOT?
13.3% of lights and electrical advisories on Ford Kugas turned into lights and electrical fails at the next MOT.
The next MOT came about 12 months later.
Based on 3,840 advisories, each followed to the car's next MOT, 2019–2024. This counts advisories, not cars.
The most common advisories on Ford Kugas are for tyres: 42.90 per 100 tests.
| Advisory | Failed next time (%) | Advisories followed |
|---|---|---|
| lamps, reflectors and electrics | 13.3 | 3,840 |
| steering | 10.4 | 4,916 |
| suspension | 10.3 | 64,219 |
| body, chassis and structure | 10 | 8,598 |
| brakes | 8 | 186,522 |
What else should I know about a used Ford Kuga?
- MOT pass rate, 2024
- 22.0% failed at the first attempt; after repairs at the test centre, 82.8% passed in the end.
- MOT tests counted
- 254,154 first tests in 2024; retests are left out
- Years first registered
- 2008 to 2020
- Fuel
- Diesel 81.2%, petrol 18.8%
- ULEZ
- 66.0% likely to meet it, judged from fuel and registration date
- Typical mileage at 8 years old
- 63,333 miles
- Recalls
- 132 campaigns listed by DVSA
Ford Kuga common problems: what actually fails the MOT?
Ford Kuga MOTs fail most often on ‘lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment’: 7.9 per 100 tests, against 8.8 for UK cars of the same age (2019–2024, n = 1,330,203).
| Measure | Value (per 100) | Comparison (per 100) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.9 | 8.8 | 105,672 |
| Tyres | 7.2 | 7.9 | 95,712 |
| Visibility | 6.2 | 6.1 | 81,888 |
| Brakes | 5.8 | 6.7 | 77,464 |
| Suspension | 4.1 | 7.7 | 55,116 |
What is likely to fail next on a used Ford Kuga?
For Ford Kugas aged 3 to 5 whose last MOT was a pass, the item most likely to fail at the next MOT is visibility: 4.6% failed on it (2019–2024, n = 263,675).
| Measure | Value (% next fail) |
|---|---|
| Visibility, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 4.6 |
| Tyres, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 3.4 |
| Brakes, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 2.4 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 2.0 |
| Suspension, 3 to 5 years old, after a pass | 0.5 |
How often do Ford Kugas get a dangerous MOT defect?
The Ford Kuga gets a dangerous defect less often than the UK average: 9.0 per 100 first tests against 11.2 across the UK. In the same tests, 21.1 major and 6.1 minor defects were recorded per 100 tests (one test can record several).
Severity was not recorded for some 2018–2021 tests.
| Measure | Value (per 100) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects | 9 | 1,330,203 |
Comparison: 11.2 per 100.
How much do Ford Kuga MOT repairs cost?
Expected repair cost per Ford Kuga MOT: about £34 (up to about £64 if more expensive parts are needed), from the chance of failing each item and its most common UK repair price (catalogue estimate, n = 254,154).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Expected repair bill | 33.6 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Estimated range lower | 33.6 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Estimated range upper | 63.9 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Battery replacement (standard 12V lead-acid) | 11.1 GBP expected contribution | 140 |
| Brakes: Front brake pads (parts + labour, typical hatchback) | 8.7 GBP expected contribution | 150 |
What mileage is normal for a used Ford Kuga?
At age 8, the median Ford Kuga had covered 63,333 miles by its MOT; the middle half ranged from 49,241 to 78,932 miles (2024, n = 33,318).
| Measure | Value (miles) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 median (rough estimate) | 23918 | 95 |
| Age 3 P25 (rough estimate) | 15358 | 95 |
| Age 3 P75 (rough estimate) | 35883 | 95 |
| Age 4 median | 29551 | 1,175 |
| Age 4 P25 | 21367 | 1,175 |
Do high-mileage Ford Kugas fail their MOT more often?
At ages 6–9, 11.9% of Ford Kugas with under 40,000 miles failed first time, against 31.7% of those with over 140,000 miles (2024, n = 30,289). Inside this age group, higher mileage goes with more failures.
| Measure | Value (% failed first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3–5, <40k miles | 12.3 | 25,953 |
| Age 3–5, 40-70k miles | 17.7 | 14,731 |
| Age 3–5, 70-100k miles | 21.7 | 1,358 |
| Age 3–5, 100-140k miles (rough estimate: 192 tests, 95% interval 21.3–33.8%) | 27.1 | 192 |
| Age 6–9, <40k miles | 11.9 | 29,365 |
How many miles do Ford Kugas last?
11.3% of Ford Kugas tested had reached 100,000 miles, and 1.4% had reached 150,000 (2024, n = 148,631).
| Measure | Value (% of tested cars) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 miles | 11.3 | 148,631 |
| 150,000 miles | 1.4 | 18,116 |
| 200,000 miles | 0.1 | 1,298 |
Does mileage, as well as age, change the Ford Kuga failure index?
Matched on annual mileage as well as age, the Ford Kuga index is 85.6, against 87.7 on age alone (2019–2024, n = 254,154).
| Measure | Value (index) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age and mileage adjusted index | 85.6 | 254,154 |
Comparison: 87.7 index.
Which Ford Kuga fuel type fails its MOT less?
Diesel Ford Kugas fail first time more often than petrol ones, before allowing for age: 23.3% against 16.6%.
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 23.3 | 206,257 |
| Petrol | 16.6 | 47,860 |
Comparison: other fuels.
Which Ford Kuga engine fails its MOT least?
Among engines with enough tests, the best Ford Kuga engine is the petrol 1.5–1.8 litre at index 84.6, and the worst the diesel 1.2–1.5 litre at 110.1, where 100 = the model's own average (2024, n = 254,154).
| Measure | Value (index vs model norm) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol 1.5–1.8 litre | 84.6 | 11,822 |
| Petrol 1.2–1.5 litre | 93.8 | 190,481 |
| Petrol 1.8–2.0 litre (rough estimate: 1,148 tests, 95% interval 88.0–104.9) | 96.2 | 1,148 |
| Petrol over 2.0 litre (rough estimate: 3,965 tests, 95% interval 92.9–101.5) | 97.2 | 3,965 |
| Diesel 1.8–2.0 litre | 100.3 | 1,008,427 |
Comparison: 100 = model average.
Where in Britain does the Ford Kuga fail its MOT most?
Ford Kuga fails first-time MOTs most in Plymouth (PL): 26.8% against 19.8% across Britain for this model, both 2019–2024 (2019–2024, n = 12,682).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth (PL) | 26.8 | 12,682 |
| Dundee (DD) | 25.2 | 5,631 |
| Kirkcaldy (KY) | 25.0 | 9,220 |
| Romford (RM) | 14.8 | 22,108 |
| Nottingham (NG) | 14.8 | 39,911 |
Across Britain for this model: 19.8% failed first time, also in 2019–2024.
Does the Ford Kuga have rust problems?
Allowing for age, Ford Kuga MOTs record corrosion failures at 0.3 times the national rate: 0.23% of tests against 0.77% (2024 + geographic layers, n = 254,025).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value (ratio estimate) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Salt belt susceptibility | 0.3 | 254,025 |
Comparison: 1 ratio estimate.
What do six years of MOTs show about owning a used Ford Kuga?
Of failed Ford Kuga MOTs, 50.6% were retested the same day and a further 47.6% within 10 days; the median failed car passed its retest after 0 days (2019–2024, n = 190,016).
| Measure | Value | Comparison | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same-day retest | 50.6 % | failed initial tests | 190,016 |
| Retest within 10 days | 47.6 % | failed initial tests | 190,016 |
| Clean MOT streak | 40.4 % | observed chains | 254,470 |
| Repeat advisory | 22.0 % | observed chains | 254,470 |
| Decreasing odometer | 0.5 % mileage anomaly | observed chains | 258,353 |
Is low mileage good for a used Ford Kuga?
Ford Kugas aged 5 to 14 doing under 5,000 miles a year failed first time in 12.4% of tests, against 22.7% for those doing 8,000 to 12,000 miles (2019–2024, n = 107,075).
| Measure | Value | Comparison | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-use first-time failure | 12.4 % | 22.7 | 107,075 |
| Low-use gap | -10.3 percentage points | 8–12k miles | 107,075 |
How many years do Ford Kugas last?
Ford Kugas leave the road sooner than most: at ten years old the typical one has about 2.6 more years of MOTs ahead. This is a forecast from the survival curve and may not come true.
Computed, not measured.
Forecast, not a prediction for a particular car.
| Measure | Value (years forecast) |
|---|---|
| Age 5 | 4.6 |
| Age 8 | 3.2 |
| Age 10 | 2.6 |
| Age 12 (at least; observed only until age 16) | 2.1 |
| Age 15 (at least; observed only until age 16) | 0.7 |
How many Ford Kugas are still on the road as they age?
In 2024, for every 100 Ford Kugas tested at ages 4 to 6, about 1 were tested at age 16 (2024, n = 2,509).
| Measure | Value (% of age 4–6 baseline) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 | 88 | 165,370 |
| Age 4 | 97.4 | 183,205 |
| Age 5 (at least as many as at ages 4–6) | 100 | 204,615 |
| Age 6 | 93.7 | 176,189 |
| Age 7 | 78.2 | 147,107 |
If a used Ford Kuga fails its MOT, will it fail the next one?
Ford Kugas that fail once are much more likely to fail again: 28.5% failed the next MOT after a fail, against 18.1% after a pass (test chains 2019–2024). The failure most likely to come back is ‘lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment’: 33.7% of those fails recurred at the next MOT.
| Measure | Value (%) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat after fail | 28.5 | 56,255 |
Comparison: 18.1 %.
Which Ford Kuga faults tend to come together?
On Ford Kugas, ‘body, chassis, structure’ and ‘noise, emissions and leaks’ failures turn up together 11.9 times as often as chance would predict (2024, n = 2,915).
| Measure | Value (lift) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis, structure + Noise, emissions and leaks | 11.9 | 2,915 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks + Steering | 9.0 | 1,505 |
| Steering + Suspension | 8.7 | 3,429 |
| Body, chassis, structure + Steering | 7.8 | 1,281 |
| Road Wheels + Steering (rough estimate: 154 tests, 95% interval 6.5–8.9) | 7.6 | 154 |
Comparison: expected joint rate.
Ford Kuga safety recalls: how do I check this car?
DVSA lists 132 safety recall campaigns matched to the Ford Kuga; check whether yours has been fixed, using its registration number.
| Measure | Value (campaigns) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns matched | 132 | 254,154 |
Comparison: DVSA register.
How many Ford Kugas fail the MOT at each age?
Of every 100 Ford Kugas tested at age 5, about 15 failed the MOT first time; at age 10, about 27. These are one-year rates for different cars tested in the same year, not a fleet followed over time; the steepest one-year step in this cross-section is between cars aged 11 and 12, 7.64 percentage points (2024).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 4 (rough estimate: 1,175 tests, 95% interval 9.2–12.8%) | 10.9 | 1,175 |
| Age 5 | 14.7 | 41,006 |
| Age 6 | 15.3 | 38,559 |
| Age 7 | 16.1 | 36,947 |
| Age 8 | 19.8 | 33,318 |
What have US dealers been told about the Ford Kuga?
NHTSA lists 634 US technical service bulletins for the Ford Kuga (US market, Ford ESCAPE, model years 2015–2022 only); a count, not a UK failure rate.
| Measure | Value (bulletins) |
|---|---|
| US service bulletins | 634 |
| Year 2014 | 4 |
| Year 2015 | 25 |
| Year 2016 | 73 |
| Year 2017 | 50 |
Comparison: NHTSA.
NHTSA, US market, Ford ESCAPE, model years 2015–2022 only; covers 211 of 761 models. These two sections use US records from NHTSA. US cars sold under the same name can differ from UK ones.
What do US owners complain about on the Ford Kuga?
The most common US owner complaint about the Ford Kuga to NHTSA concerns engine (not MOT-tested): 4,606 complaints (US market, Ford ESCAPE, model years 2015–2022 only).
| Measure | Value (complaints) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Engine (not MOT-tested) | 4606 | 4,606 |
| Transmission (not MOT-tested) | 1671 | 1,671 |
| Body & structure | 862 | 862 |
| Lamps & electrical | 755 | 755 |
| Steering | 270 | 270 |
NHTSA, US market, Ford ESCAPE, model years 2015–2022 only; covers 211 of 761 models. These two sections use US records from NHTSA. US cars sold under the same name can differ from UK ones.
Do Ford Kugas fail their MOT more in some months?
Ford Kugas fail first time most in November (20.9%, against 30.6% for all cars that month) and least in March (18.3%) (2024, n = 254,154).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Comparison (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20.6 | 31.1 | 106,534 |
| February | 19.6 | 30.0 | 104,141 |
| March | 18.3 | 28.3 | 144,647 |
| April | 19.6 | 29.8 | 78,859 |
| May | 19.2 | 28.8 | 87,019 |
How far is real-world MPG from the lab figure for Ford cars?
Real-world fuel use of 2021 petrol cars from Ford Werke GmbH is 19.7% above the official WLTP figure: 6.99 against 5.84 litres per 100 km (2021+ cohorts, n = 112,909 vehicles).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value (% real-world vs official) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Werke GmbH 2021 diesel | 17.1 | 46,867 |
| Ford Werke GmbH 2021 petrol | 19.7 | 112,909 |
| Ford Werke GmbH 2021 petrol/electric | 220.9 | 21,845 |
| Ford Werke GmbH 2022 diesel | 16.1 | 41,902 |
| Ford Werke GmbH 2022 petrol | 19.0 | 102,359 |
Plug-in hybrids: the lab figure assumes the battery is charged often; on the road many are driven mostly on petrol, so the gap is several times larger.
Comparison: 0% gap.
European Commission OBFCM; covers 19 of 761 models.
What DVSA defect categories mean
- Dangerous: the car should not be driven until it is repaired.
- Major: the car fails the MOT.
- Minor: recorded, but the car still passes.
- Advisory: noted by the tester to keep an eye on; the car still passes.
How are these figures calculated?
We count first MOT tests only; retests after repairs are left out. Each model is compared with cars of the same age.
Cite this page or report an error
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Ford Kuga MOT statistics 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 24 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/ford-kuga/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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More on the Ford Kuga
- Overview:
- Model overview · All Ford models
- Build years:
- 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020
- What fails:
- body · brakes · plates · lights · emissions · wheels · seat belts · steering · suspension · tyres · visibility
- Abroad:
- Finland · the Netherlands · Norway
- By area:
- Postcode areas
- Compare:
- Nissan Qashqai · Kia Sportage