2019 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 181,601 MOT tests, the 2019 Ford Kuga recorded a 90.7% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 9.5%, so the 2019 Kuga sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.6%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, wipers and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 5,328 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.5% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 9.3% of the time against 9.3% for petrol.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.6% | 6,548 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 6,214 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 6,130 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 5,128 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 1,691 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 585 |
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 | 5,328 |
| 2 | Wipers | 4,983 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 3,744 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,783 |
| 5 | Side repeaters | 2,742 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 2,437 |
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 | 21.4% | 38,781 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.1% | 32,875 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.4% | 17,022 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.3% | 4,206 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.8% | 3,192 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 1,387 |
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 | 85,060 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 81,302 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 13,437 | 14.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,434 | 15.8% |
| 120-150k | 295 | 20.0% |
| 150k+ | 69 | 14.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 102,002 | 9.3% |
| Petrol | 79,596 | 9.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,806 | 5.1% |
| 2022 | 45,310 | 7.5% |
| 2023 | 44,845 | 8.9% |
| 2024 | 44,706 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 44,934 | 10.7% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Kuga
On a 2019 Kuga, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (3.6% 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 (3.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2019 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
90.7% of the 181,601 2019 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Ford Kuga?
Visibility, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2019 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 14.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 181,601 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.