2016 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
188,886 MOT tests on the 2016 Ford Kuga are in this dataset, and 88.0% of them passed. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (13.8% fail rate), the 2016 Kuga comes out 1.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.6%) and tyres (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, position lamp and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 6,126 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 22.1% versus 6.0%.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 11.0% of the time against 12.2% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 10,509 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.8% | 9,146 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.9% | 7,304 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 6,685 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 1,650 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 1,415 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 6,126 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 5,556 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 5,543 |
| 4 | Wipers | 5,344 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 3,159 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,455 |
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 | 26.1% | 49,347 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.3% | 34,569 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.9% | 18,645 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.4% | 15,794 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 5,561 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 5,185 |
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 | 18,617 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 90,778 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 59,966 | 14.7% |
| 90-120k | 15,793 | 18.1% |
| 120-150k | 2,928 | 19.1% |
| 150k+ | 753 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 160,325 | 12.2% |
| Petrol | 28,555 | 11.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36,931 | 9.2% |
| 2022 | 37,545 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 37,774 | 11.9% |
| 2024 | 38,154 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 38,482 | 14.8% |
What to check before buying a 2016 Kuga
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.8% 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.
- Brakes (3.9% 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 2016 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
88.0% of the 188,886 2016 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Ford Kuga?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (4.8%).
Does the 2016 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 188,886 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.