Ford Cougar Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Ford Cougar car check
Is the Ford Cougar reliable? We analysed 152,057 real MOT tests across 13,390 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Ford Cougar? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Ford Cougar is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake pipe excessively corroded and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Cougar.
Ford Cougar Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Ford Cougar. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Ford Cougar MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Ford Cougar to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Ford Cougar Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Ford Cougar fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Ford Cougar Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Ford Cougar owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Ford Cougar MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Cougar year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 75 | 76.0% | 63,629 | 86,942 | 117,755 |
| 2010 | 99 | 79.8% | 62,724 | 77,982 | 109,943 |
| 2009 | 90 | 77.8% | 59,576 | 80,609 | 101,664 |
| 2002 | 376 | 72.6% | 50,343 | 72,192 | 96,935 |
| 2001 | 19,340 | 68.8% | 54,775 | 75,845 | 99,836 |
| 2000 | 51,206 | 66.6% | 61,882 | 82,058 | 104,148 |
| 1999 | 68,072 | 65.6% | 67,598 | 87,490 | 109,169 |
| 1998 | 12,557 | 64.8% | 67,394 | 87,878 | 109,061 |
How Long Does a Ford Cougar Last?
Based on 13,390 Ford Cougar vehicles on UK roads.
Ford Cougar Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Ford Cougar MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Cougar
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
79.8% MOT pass rate from 99 tests
64.8% MOT pass rate from 12,557 tests
The best year to buy a used Ford Cougar is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.8% across 99 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Ford Cougar Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Cougar THIS CAR | 66.3% | 152,057 | 84,303 mi | 28 yrs |
| Ford Fiesta | 72.8% | 33,753,820 | 57,529 mi | 34 yrs |
| Ford Focus | 73.8% | 28,316,889 | 72,500 mi | 27 yrs |
| Ford Transit | 68.7% | 16,371,688 | 100,614 mi | 37 yrs |
| Vauxhall Crossland | 86% | 194,349 | 31,727 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Cougar trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Ford Cougar you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Ford CougarShould you buy a used Ford Cougar?
The Ford Cougar has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.3% across 152,057 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Ford Cougar are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (11,699 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (11,462), and position lamp(s) not working (9,511). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Ford Cougar owner drives around 5,383 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Ford Cougar models stay on UK roads for around 28 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.