Ford Puma Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Ford Puma 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 5,363 MOT tests across 8 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Hybrid, Petrol
74%
Ford Puma pass rate
85%
Ford average
82%
All-model average
The Ford Puma has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, which is 11 points below the Ford average and 8 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Ford Pumas pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 11 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Ford Puma Fails Its MOT On
Of the 679 MOT tests on the Ford Puma 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.
Suspension
49%Cars and vans the same age: 34% (the Puma fails on this more often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
36%Cars and vans the same age: 30% · Typical repair £80-£450
Lights and electrics
30%Cars and vans the same age: 45% (the Puma fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Body, chassis and structure
24%Cars and vans the same age: 23% · Typical repair £200-£1200
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
16%Cars and vans the same age: 18% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Suspension mounting area corroded, significantly reducing its strength (24% of failed tests, suspension)
- Seat belt mounting area strength significantly reduced (12% of failed tests, seat belts and airbags)
- Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure (7.8% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
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 Puma 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 Puma 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
- 2000: 71% passed, against 74% for all 2000 cars (3 points lower, 1,020 tests)
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more 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 Puma 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.
Ford Puma Running Costs
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Ford Puma FAQ
What are the most common Ford Puma problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Ford Puma that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (49% of the 679 failed tests), brakes (36%) and lights and electrics (30%). The single most common fault was "Suspension mounting area corroded, significantly reducing its strength" (24%). Across 5,363 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 74% ended in a pass.
Is the Ford Puma reliable?
The Ford Puma has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, from 5,363 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 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Ford Puma years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2000 (71% of 1,020 tests passed, against 74% for all 2000 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. 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 Puma faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Ford Puma 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