Ford Cougar
Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 4 years from 1,087 real MOT tests.
Avg Pass Rate
69%
Total Tests
1,087
Best Year
2001 (76%)
Years Covered
4
How reliable is the Ford Cougar?
Ford Cougar by Year
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About the Ford Cougar
The Ford Cougar has been tested 1,087 times in 2024 MOT data across 4 model years (1998 to 2001), with an average pass rate of 69%. That's 13 points below the national average of 82%, so check the year-by-year data carefully before buying. Available as petrol.
Best and Worst Years
The 2001 model is the most reliable with a 76% pass rate from 263 tests. The 1998 model has the lowest at 58%. With a 18 point spread, choosing the right year makes a big difference to reliability.
Reliability Trend
Newer FORD COUGARs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 9 percentage points.
Mileage Across Years
The oldest model in our data (1998) averages 101,624 miles, while the newest (2001) averages 94,678 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.
Compared to the Ford brand average of 85%, the Cougar is 16 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Ford models.
Click any year in the table above to see detailed running costs, individual reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.