2012 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 60,186 MOT tests analysed for the 2012 Ford Kuga, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres. Its pass rate of 77.3% was in line with the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (77.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 25.1% in the 150k+ group versus 19.8% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 11.5% | 6,891 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 6,685 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.1% | 3,658 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.5% | 2,708 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 2,120 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.9% | 1,776 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 6,355 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 2,623 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,467 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,204 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 1,760 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,502 |
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 | 29.7% | 17,864 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.0% | 11,447 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.6% | 11,203 |
| 4 | Other defects | 14.1% | 8,509 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 4,680 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 4,570 |
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 | 546 | 19.8% |
| 30-60k | 6,364 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 21,599 | 21.4% |
| 90-120k | 20,306 | 23.9% |
| 120-150k | 8,415 | 25.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,830 | 25.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 58,917 | 22.7% |
| Petrol | 1,269 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,347 | 21.9% |
| 2022 | 12,311 | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 12,196 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 11,783 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 11,549 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Kuga
Before buying a 2012 Ford Kuga, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 11.5% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (11.5% 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 (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2012 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
77.3% of the 60,186 2012 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Ford Kuga?
Suspension, recorded in 11.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.1%).
Does the 2012 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 60,186 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.