Ford Kuga: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Ford Kuga passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 5.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 255,589 individual Ford Kuga tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate82.4%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+5.7 points
Tests analysed255,589
Average mileage at test67,459 miles
Average year of manufacture2016
Reliability rank1,359 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 82.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 18 in every 100 Ford Kugas presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Ford Kuga tested had covered 67,459 miles and was built around 2016.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Ford Kuga sits 5.7 points above the national average, ranked 1,359 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. See how it stacks up against the Ford Fiesta.

Looking at a specific Ford Kuga rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Ford Kuga: £675 at UK salvage auction, from 44 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Ford Kuga

  1. A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, 0.8% of tests (2.8x the national rate for this defect)
  2. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 3.5% of tests (1.65x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 2.7% of tests (1.21x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.5% of tests
  5. A tyre seriously damaged, 2% of tests
  6. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 1.8% of tests
  7. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1.6% of tests
  8. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 1.5% of tests
  9. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 1.4% of tests
  10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.4% of tests

From 255,364 DVSA-tracked Ford Kuga tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 6.4% of these flagged Ford Kuga defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Ford Kuga

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Ford Kuga before it actually fails on it.

  1. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 17.5% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  2. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33.5% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.5% of tests, also fails
  4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 11% of tests
  5. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 8.3% of tests, also fails
  6. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 4.6% of tests
  7. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 3.5% of tests
  8. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 3.2% of tests
  9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3% of tests
  10. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 2.1% of tests, also fails

From 255,364 DVSA-tracked Ford Kuga tests, 2024.

Ford Kuga pass rate by model year

From its 2008 to its 2020 model year, the Ford Kuga's first-time pass rate has risen 24 points, from 67.8% to 91.8%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Ford Kuga year:

Ford Kuga by fuel type

The Ford Kuga's two most-tested fuel types split by 5.2 points: diesel passes first time 81.8% of the time (206,503 tests) against 87% for petrol (47,919 tests).

Other Ford models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Ford Kuga MOT pass rate badge: 82.4%

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Ford Kuga most common MOT failure: A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative (0.8% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate