Family SUV · 2007–2021 cars

Ford Kuga reliability

The Ford Kuga fails 20.2% of first MOT tests, 12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 893,971 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 61/100#29 of 59 family suvs

Checking a Ford Kuga before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 20.2%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 12% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 893,971; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 8,700; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Ford Kuga has a solid MOT record. In 893,971 tests from 2022 to 2024, 20.2% of cars failed their first MOT, against 28.4% for all cars. It has 12% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, and ranks 29 of 59 family SUV models. Cars from 2021 did best, with 35% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage. Cars from 2019 were about average.

The weak spot is windscreen, wipers and mirrors, with 11% more fails there than comparable cars. The most common failures are brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.34% of tests), position lamp not working (2.31%), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.08%) and tyre tread below 1.6mm (2% of tests). Before you buy, check the brake pads and tyres, test every light and wiper, and look for chips or cracks in the glass.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Ford Kuga ages

Each point is the share of Ford Kugas of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Ford KugaAll cars

Ford Kuga first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Ford Kuga	All cars
3	11.1%	12.3%
4	13.6%	14.1%
5	14.8%	16.4%
6	15.7%	19.1%
7	18.5%	22.1%
8	21.7%	25.5%
9	25.4%	28.8%
10	29.2%	31.8%
11	34.3%	34.6%
12	38%	37.3%
13	39.6%	39.5%
14	38.7%	41.1%
15	38.7%	42.3%
16	35.8%	42.9%

By year

The best and worst Ford Kuga years

2021 cars come out best and 2019 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Ford Kuga MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021 Kuga	10,887	7.7%	35% fewer fails	26,542
2020 Kuga	27,290	9.1%	25% fewer fails	27,780
2019 Kuga	112,062	13.5%	1% more fails	31,612
2018 Kuga	134,322	14%	7% fewer fails	37,359
2017 Kuga	128,339	14.7%	18% fewer fails	47,153
2016 Kuga	114,119	17.5%	17% fewer fails	55,985
2015 Kuga	105,113	20.7%	16% fewer fails	65,366
2014 Kuga	78,896	23.9%	16% fewer fails	73,942
2013 Kuga	44,801	25.5%	20% fewer fails	83,991
2012 Kuga	33,219	34.9%	1% fewer fails	93,127
2011 Kuga	32,358	36.6%	4% fewer fails	101,411
2010 Kuga	34,123	39.8%	3% fewer fails	110,405
2009 Kuga	28,408	39.4%	8% fewer fails	117,006
2008 Kuga	10,028	38.7%	12% fewer fails	121,895

Common problems

What fails most on a Ford Kuga

Its weak spot is windscreen, wipers and mirrors: 11% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics7.3%5% below avg
Tyres5.3%12% below avg
Brakes4.5%8% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.3%11% above avg
Suspension2.9%51% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.7%16% below avg
Body, chassis and structure1.3%32% below avg
Steering0.9%28% below avg
Seat belts and airbags0.3%45% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.34% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
2
Position lamp not working 2.31% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.08% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Coil spring fractured or broken 1.24% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
6
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 1.14% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
7
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.98% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
8
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.94% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Ford Kuga's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit14.98%
Brake pads wearing thin10.99%
Brake disc pitted or scored6.45%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.89%
Child seat limits belt inspection3.17%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear2.43%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Ford Kuga

1
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
4
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Ford Kuga covers about 8,700 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Diesel81.9%
Petrol17.2%
Hybrid0.8%
Other0%
LPG0%
Electric0%

Most common colours

Grey, White, Black, Blue, Silver

Average engine size: 1.9 litres.

Compare

How the Ford Kuga compares with its rivals

Ford Kuga against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque	15.2%	33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volkswagen Tiguan	17.4%	24% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Honda CR-V	25.6%	22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Land Rover Freelander	33.4%	17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Kuga	20.2%	12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Sportage	22.8%	about average for its age
Nissan Qashqai	30.4%	15% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all Ford models.

Questions

Ford Kuga questions, answered

Is the Ford Kuga reliable?

On MOT results, the Ford Kuga is about average: it fails 20.2% of first MOT tests, 12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 29 of 59 family suv models in our index.

What fails most on a Ford Kuga MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Ford Kuga are brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.34% of tests), position lamp not working (2.31% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.08% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 7.3% of its tests.

Which Ford Kuga year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2021 cars do best (35% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2019 cars do worst (about average for its age).

How many miles does a Ford Kuga do a year?

A typical Ford Kuga covers about 8,700 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Ford Kuga before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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