Ford Kuga Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Ford Kuga fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 463,580 MOT tests across 14 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol, Diesel
86%
Ford Kuga pass rate
85%
Ford average
82%
All-model average
The Ford Kuga has an average MOT pass rate of 86%, which is 1 point above the Ford average and 4 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Ford Kugas pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 10 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Ford Kuga Fails Its MOT On
Of the 57,874 MOT tests on the Ford Kuga that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
38%Cars and vans the same age: 34% · Typical repair £15-£200
Tyres
29%Cars and vans the same age: 25% · Typical repair £50-£300
Brakes
23%Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £80-£450
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
17%Cars and vans the same age: 15% · Typical repair £10-£350
Suspension
16%Cars and vans the same age: 30% (the Kuga fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (14% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick (13% of failed tests, brakes)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (10% of failed tests, tyres)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Ford Kuga Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Kuga year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Ford Kuga Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Petrol | 1.5L | 90% | 10% | - |
| 2020 | Diesel | 2.0L | 93% | 7% | 92% (+1) |
| 2019 | Diesel | 2.0L | 91% | 9% | 91% (0) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.5L | 90% | 10% | 89% (+1) |
| 2017 | Diesel | 1.5L | 89% | 10% | 87% (+2) |
| 2016 | Diesel | 2.0L | 88% | 12% | 86% (+2) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 2.0L | 85% | 14% | 84% (+1) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 2.0L | 83% | 16% | 82% (+1) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 2.0L | 83% | 16% | 80% (+3) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 2.0L | 79% | 21% | 79% (0) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 0.0L | 78% | 22% | 77% (+1) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.0L | 77% | 23% | 75% (+2) |
| 2009 | Diesel | 0.0L | 77% | 23% | 75% (+2) |
| 2008 | Diesel | 2.0L | 77% | 22% | 74% (+3) |
Ford Kuga Running Costs
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Ford Kuga FAQ
What are the most common Ford Kuga problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Ford Kuga that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (38% of the 57,874 failed tests), tyres (29%) and brakes (23%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (14%). Across 463,580 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 86% ended in a pass.
Is the Ford Kuga reliable?
The Ford Kuga has an average MOT pass rate of 86%, from 463,580 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Ford Kuga years should I avoid?
No Ford Kuga year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2013 (83% of 23,981 tests passed, against 80% for all 2013 cars) and the 2008 (77% of 5,250 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Ford Kuga faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Ford Kuga typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Ford Models
Common problems pages for other Ford models