Ford Kuga vs Nissan Qashqai: which fails its MOT less?
Allowing for age, the Ford Kuga fails its MOT less often than the Nissan Qashqai.
- less often than the Nissan Qashqai, at the same age
- 24.0%less often than the Nissan Qashqai, at the same age
MOTs passed in 2024: Ford Kuga 82.8%, Nissan Qashqai 73.1%
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 810,761 tests
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Which fails less for its age?
Allowing for age, the Ford Kuga fails less often: MOT Risk Index 90.2 against 118.2 (100 = normal for its age; difference 28.0, 95% CI 27.2–28.8).
| Measure | Ford Kuga | Nissan Qashqai | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passed at the first attempt, % | 78.0 | 68.5 | 2024 |
| MOT Risk Index (100 = normal) | 90.2 | 118.2 | 2024 |
| 95% interval of the index | 89.5–90.9 | 117.7–118.6 | 2024 |
| Rank among 761 models (1 = fails least for its age) | 352 | 633 | 2024 |
| First tests | 254,154 | 556,607 | 2024 |
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After defects were fixed at the test centre
82.8% of Ford Kuga tests and 73.1% of Nissan Qashqai 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 suspension: against its own class and age, the Ford Kuga runs −3.6 items per 100 tests and the Nissan Qashqai +9.6, so the Ford Kuga has 13.2 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 13.1 to 13.2).
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 Kuga | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects per 100 tests | 9.0 | 12.2 |
| Advisory items per 100 tests | 100.6 | 127.0 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data, 2019–2024. A test can record several items. CSV
At what age does one of them fail more?
They change places at age 4: the difference is clear at 14 of 14 ages, and which fails less depends on the age of the car. Across the 4 yearly tests from age 4 to 7, the gaps add up to 9.2 extra failed tests per 100 for the Nissan Qashqai (a sum of yearly rates, not the chance of one car failing).
| Age | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | +0.3 | +0.0 to +0.5 | Nissan Qashqai fails less |
| 4 | −0.6 | −0.9 to −0.3 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 5 | −1.2 | −1.5 to −0.9 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 6 | −2.7 | −3.0 to −2.3 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 7 | −4.7 | −5.1 to −4.4 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 8 | −6.3 | −6.7 to −5.9 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 9 | −7.7 | −8.2 to −7.2 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 10 | −9.6 | −10.2 to −9.0 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 11 | −12.0 | −12.6 to −11.3 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 12 | −12.6 | −13.4 to −11.8 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 13 | −13.8 | −14.8 to −12.9 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 14 | −15.0 | −16.1 to −13.9 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 15 | −16.9 | −18.4 to −15.3 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 16 | −14.7 | −17.7 to −11.7 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| Age band | Ages included | Ford Kuga, % | Nissan Qashqai, % | Difference, pp | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–5 | 3–5 | 12.4 | 12.8 | −0.4 | −0.5 to −0.3 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 6–10 | 6–10 | 21.8 | 28.6 | −6.9 | −7.0 to −6.7 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| 11+ | 11–16 | 38.1 | 51.7 | −13.5 | −13.8 to −13.3 | Ford Kuga fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,240,707 (initial tests at shared ages) · Method: difference of two proportions per age, Bonferroni-corrected for 14 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 suspension: against its own class and age, the Ford Kuga runs −3.6 items per 100 tests and the Nissan Qashqai +9.6, so the Ford Kuga has 13.2 fewer per 100 tests (95% interval 13.1 to 13.2).
| Component group | Ford Kuga vs its class | Nissan Qashqai vs its class | Gap, Ford Kuga minus Nissan Qashqai | 95% interval | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | −3.6 | +9.6 | −13.2 | −13.2 to −13.1 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| Steering | −0.4 | +5.9 | −6.3 | −6.3 to −6.3 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| Body, chassis, structure | −0.7 | +3.4 | −4.0 | −4.1 to −4.0 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| Brakes | −0.9 | +2.8 | −3.7 | −3.7 to −3.6 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | −0.8 | +2.8 | −3.6 | −3.7 to −3.5 | Ford Kuga fails less |
| Visibility | +0.0 | +1.3 | −1.2 | −1.3 to −1.2 | Ford Kuga fails less |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,266,958 (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 on the Nissan Qashqai carries 1.8 percentage points more extra risk of failing again than on the Ford Kuga.
| Measure | Ford Kuga | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| After a failed test, % | 28.5 | 36.5 |
| After a passed test, % | 18.1 | 24.3 |
| Extra risk carried by a failure, pp | 10.4 | 12.2 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 211,986 (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 suspension: 10.3% on the Ford Kuga against 29.0% on the Nissan Qashqai failed on the same item at the next MOT.
| Component | Ford Kuga | Nissan Qashqai | Difference, pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 10.3 | 29.0 | −18.7 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.3 | 31.8 | −18.5 |
| Steering | 10.4 | 25.1 | −14.7 |
| Body, chassis, structure | 10.0 | 23.5 | −13.5 |
| Brakes | 8.0 | 12.4 | −4.4 |
| Visibility | 7.7 | 10.2 | −2.5 |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.0 | 5.2 | −2.3 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 2.0 | 3.5 | −1.5 |
| Tyres | 7.7 | 8.0 | −0.3 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.1 | 4.8 | +0.3 |
| Measure | Ford Kuga | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| Repaired and passed the same day | 50.6% | 45.3% |
| Passed 1–10 days later | 47.6% | 52.1% |
| Median retest delay | 0.0 days | 1.0 days |
| Failures per 10,000 miles | 0.282 | 0.426 |
| Three-test clean streak | 40.4% | 32.9% |
| Same advisory repeated 3+ times | 22.0% | 33.4% |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,501,630 (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 132 recall campaigns matched to the Ford Kuga and 25 to the Nissan Qashqai; 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 Kuga | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns listed | 132 | 25 |
| Finland Katsastus: fails, % (national average 26.3%) | 14.5 (4,188 inspections) | 28.6 (36,002 inspections) |
| Netherlands APK: fails, % (national average 50.8%) | 34.1 (14,612 inspections) | 49.2 (72,943 inspections) |
| Norway PKK: fails, % (national average 33.7%) | 29.9 (10,382 inspections) | 37.5 (19,555 inspections) |
| Expected MOT repair bill, £ (estimate) | £34 | £79 |
| Repair bill range, £ (catalogue range, not a 95% interval) | £34–£64 | £79–£150 |
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 = 157,682 (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 Kuga vs Nissan Qashqai: 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-kuga-vs-nissan-qashqai/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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Ford Kuga vs Nissan Qashqai: quick answers
Is the Ford Kuga or the Nissan Qashqai more reliable?
Allowing for age, the Ford Kuga fails less often: MOT Risk Index 90.2 against 118.2 (100 = normal for its age; difference 28.0, 95% CI 27.2–28.8).
Does the Ford Kuga or the Nissan Qashqai fail more MOTs?
22.0% of Ford Kuga first tests and 31.6% of Nissan Qashqai first tests failed in 2024. These raw rates do not allow for age; the MOT Risk Index does.
Which should I buy, the Ford Kuga or the Nissan Qashqai?
If MOT reliability decides it, the evidence favours the Ford Kuga. Still check the individual car's MOT history: these figures describe whole model populations.