2020 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Ford Kuga passed 91.9% of its 50,286 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 8.8%, so the 2020 Kuga sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.5%) and visibility (2.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,007 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.2% in the 0-30k band and 14.3% in the 120-150k band, a 8.1-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.1pp more often than hybrid ones (8.6% vs 6.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.9% of tests failed in 2022 against 10.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.5% | 1,770 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 1,192 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 1,076 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 951 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 422 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 279 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,007 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 934 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 854 |
| 4 | Washers | 851 |
| 5 | Wipers | 498 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 334 |
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 | 19.1% | 9,615 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.9% | 8,512 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.4% | 3,719 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.0% | 3,021 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 956 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 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 | 26,889 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 20,981 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,137 | 13.9% |
| 90-120k | 238 | 14.3% |
| 120-150k | 35 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 31,313 | 8.6% |
| Petrol | 10,586 | 7.9% |
| Hybrid | 8,387 | 6.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 588 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 16,372 | 6.8% |
| 2024 | 16,298 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 17,005 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Kuga
On a 2020 Kuga, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.5% 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.
- Visibility (2.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.1% 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 2020 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 50,286 2020 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Kuga?
Tyres, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2020 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,286 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.