2013 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 76,310 MOT tests, the 2013 Ford Kuga recorded an 82.9% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 20.2% of the time, so this is 3.2pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.8% of all tests — 4.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, brake pads and tread depth — position lamp alone was recorded 4,079 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.3% in the 0-30k band and 23.4% in the 150k+ band, a 14.1-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 15.7% of the time against 17.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 19.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.8% | 7,461 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.5% | 4,187 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.4% | 4,138 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 2,428 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 2,362 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 1,720 |
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 | 4,079 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 2,569 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,553 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 1,870 |
| 5 | Washers | 1,582 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,367 |
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 | 28.7% | 21,882 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.9% | 15,204 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.9% | 12,870 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.7% | 8,151 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 4,261 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 3,115 |
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 | 980 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 13,284 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 31,254 | 16.1% |
| 90-120k | 21,915 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 6,824 | 21.7% |
| 150k+ | 2,015 | 23.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 72,937 | 17.1% |
| Petrol | 3,373 | 15.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,181 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 15,338 | 15.6% |
| 2023 | 15,498 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 15,270 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 15,023 | 19.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Kuga
On a 2013 Kuga, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (9.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.5% 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.
- Tyres (5.4% 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 2013 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 76,310 2013 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Ford Kuga?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.8% of tests, followed by brakes (5.5%).
Does the 2013 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.3% in the 0-30k band to 23.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 76,310 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.