Ford Kuga Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Ford Kuga car check
Is the Ford Kuga reliable? We analysed 2,487,727 real MOT tests across 269,939 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Ford Kuga? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Ford Kuga is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Kuga.
Ford Kuga Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Ford Kuga. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Ford Kuga MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Ford Kuga to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Ford Kuga Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Ford Kuga fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Ford Kuga Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Ford Kuga models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Ford Kuga Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Ford Kuga owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Ford Kuga MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Kuga year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 873 | 89.0% | 17,801 | 25,164 | 34,521 |
| 2021 | 281 | 87.9% | 19,790 | 29,903 | 43,164 |
| 2020 | 4,913 | 88.9% | 19,758 | 29,775 | 42,796 |
| 2019 | 204,955 | 87.7% | 21,955 | 32,453 | 45,888 |
| 2018 | 240,316 | 87.7% | 24,848 | 37,078 | 52,460 |
| 2017 | 280,359 | 88.1% | 28,728 | 42,630 | 60,277 |
| 2016 | 289,106 | 86.0% | 32,435 | 48,036 | 67,594 |
| 2015 | 308,700 | 84.6% | 35,965 | 53,598 | 74,842 |
| 2014 | 259,332 | 83.2% | 39,430 | 58,792 | 81,221 |
| 2013 | 166,361 | 82.2% | 42,680 | 64,414 | 89,154 |
| 2012 | 143,544 | 77.6% | 47,025 | 70,676 | 96,748 |
| 2011 | 154,685 | 76.4% | 50,163 | 75,414 | 103,166 |
| 2010 | 183,867 | 74.9% | 52,671 | 80,105 | 108,612 |
| 2009 | 168,394 | 75.0% | 54,420 | 83,302 | 112,252 |
| 2008 | 65,938 | 75.7% | 56,905 | 86,564 | 115,996 |
| 2007 | 54 | 75.9% | 58,514 | 80,605 | 112,461 |
How Long Does a Ford Kuga Last?
Based on 269,939 Ford Kuga vehicles on UK roads.
Ford Kuga Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Ford Kuga 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 Kuga
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.0% MOT pass rate from 873 tests
74.9% MOT pass rate from 183,867 tests
The best year to buy a used Ford Kuga is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.0% across 873 tests. The 2010 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Ford Kuga Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Kuga THIS CAR | 82.9% | 2,487,727 | 53,644 mi | 18 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 |
| Mercedes-benz Vito | 71.2% | 2,011,702 | 109,989 mi | 29 yrs |
Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Kuga outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Ford Kuga 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 KugaShould you buy a used Ford Kuga?
The Ford Kuga has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.9% across 2,487,727 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm with 11,708 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Ford Kuga with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Ford Kuga owner drives around 7,164 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 Kuga models stay on UK roads for around 18 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.