2018 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Ford Kuga passed 90.7% of its 213,326 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (4.1%) and tyres (3.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, brake pads and tread depth — wipers alone was recorded 6,911 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.1% in the 0-30k band and 15.3% in the 150k+ band, a 9.2-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.3% of the time against 9.4% for diesel.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.1% | 8,769 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.7% | 7,945 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.8% | 6,046 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.8% | 6,004 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 1,820 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 738 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 6,911 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 6,076 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 5,893 |
| 4 | Washers | 3,542 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 2,974 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 1,713 |
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 | 23.9% | 50,901 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.8% | 42,184 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.5% | 20,298 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 5,799 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.5% | 5,222 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 2,761 |
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 | 79,692 | 6.1% |
| 30-60k | 102,358 | 10.6% |
| 60-90k | 26,808 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 3,685 | 15.3% |
| 120-150k | 618 | 16.3% |
| 150k+ | 150 | 15.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 147,987 | 9.4% |
| Petrol | 65,338 | 9.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42,740 | 6.6% |
| 2022 | 42,545 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 43,028 | 10.1% |
| 2024 | 42,434 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 42,579 | 11.0% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Kuga
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 4.1% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (3.7% 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 (2.8% 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 2018 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 213,326 2018 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford Kuga?
Visibility, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by tyres (3.7%).
Does the 2018 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.1% in the 0-30k band to 15.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 213,326 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.