2008 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 17,610 MOT tests, the 2008 Ford Kuga recorded a 75.9% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 26.9% of the time, so this is 2.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.2% of all tests — 7.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, headlamp aim and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 1,308 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 25.5% versus 15.3%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 30.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 23.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.2% | 2,670 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.9% | 1,392 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.7% | 1,182 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.7% | 1,178 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 1,000 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.0% | 876 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 1,308 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 799 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 692 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 680 |
| 5 | Washers | 650 |
| 6 | On or after 01/07/2008 | 621 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 30.6% | 5,395 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.9% | 4,914 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.9% | 3,678 |
| 4 | Other defects | 15.0% | 2,634 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 1,881 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.5% | 1,856 |
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 | 72 | 15.3% |
| 30-60k | 333 | 15.6% |
| 60-90k | 2,098 | 21.0% |
| 90-120k | 6,256 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 5,913 | 24.9% |
| 150k+ | 2,910 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 17,541 | 24.1% |
| Petrol | 69 | 20.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,080 | 23.1% |
| 2022 | 3,907 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 3,670 | 24.1% |
| 2024 | 3,255 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 2,698 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Kuga
On a 2008 Kuga, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.9% 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.
- Brakes (6.7% 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.
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 2008 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 17,610 2008 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Ford Kuga?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.2% of tests, followed by suspension (7.9%).
Does the 2008 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,610 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.