2001 Ford Cougar — MOT failures & pass rate
835 MOT tests on the 2001 Ford Cougar are in this dataset, and 70.7% of them passed. Coupes & convertibles of a similar age fail 22.5% of the time, so this is 6.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (17.8%) and suspension (15.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), component mounting prescribed areas and rigid brake pipes — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 80 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 41.7% versus 29.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.1% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 17.8% | 149 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.1% | 126 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 114 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 51 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.6% | 47 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.0% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 80 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 79 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 68 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 50 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 49 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 42 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 42.9% | 358 |
| 2 | Suspension | 41.1% | 343 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.6% | 172 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 127 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 112 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 89 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 31 | 29.0% |
| 30-60k | 106 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 309 | 27.5% |
| 90-120k | 241 | 31.9% |
| 120-150k | 110 | 35.4% |
| 150k+ | 36 | 41.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 222 | 31.1% |
| 2022 | 189 | 29.1% |
| 2023 | 159 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 140 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 125 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Cougar
On a 2001 Cougar, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (17.8% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (15.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Ford Cougars pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 835 2001 Ford Cougar MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Ford Cougar?
Brakes, recorded in 17.8% of tests, followed by suspension (15.1%).
Does the 2001 Cougar get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.0% in the 0-30k band to 41.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 835 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.