2017 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2017 Ford Kuga passed 89.9% of its 204,692 recorded MOT tests. Against mid-size SUVs of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), the 2017 Kuga comes out 1.8pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.1%) and tyres (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, tread depth and wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 6,033 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.3% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 10.0% of the time against 10.1% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 24.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.1% | 8,338 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.0% | 8,289 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.2% | 6,616 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 5,565 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.6% | 1,289 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 1,033 |
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 | 6,033 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 5,965 |
| 3 | Wipers | 5,938 |
| 4 | Washers | 3,942 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,838 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,768 |
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 | 24.9% | 51,036 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.5% | 44,020 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.8% | 19,999 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 11,110 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 5,902 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 3,867 |
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 | 42,043 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 106,752 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 45,454 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 8,542 | 15.0% |
| 120-150k | 1,430 | 15.9% |
| 150k+ | 438 | 15.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 167,849 | 10.1% |
| Petrol | 36,843 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 40,035 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 40,797 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 41,264 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 41,338 | 11.4% |
| 2025 | 41,258 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Kuga
On a 2017 Kuga, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (4.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (4.0% 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 (3.2% 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 2017 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 204,692 2017 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Ford Kuga?
Visibility, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by tyres (4.0%).
Does the 2017 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 204,692 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.