2023 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,477 MOT tests, the 2023 Ford Kuga recorded a 95.8% pass rate. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail 5.6% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.8%) and lighting & signalling (2.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 40 times.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.8% | 41 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 29 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 12 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.5% | 8 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 5 |
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 | 40 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 16 |
| 3 | Washers | 7 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 6 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 4 |
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 | 11.5% | 170 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 92 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.2% | 77 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.3% | 19 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.7% | 10 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 5 |
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 | 1,125 | 3.2% |
| 30-60k | 319 | 7.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | 1,090 | 4.0% |
| Petrol | 372 | 4.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 41 | 2.4% |
| 2025 | 1,435 | 4.3% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Kuga
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.8% 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.
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 2023 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
95.8% of the 1,477 2023 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Ford Kuga?
Tyres, recorded in 2.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.0%).
Does the 2023 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.2% in the 0-30k band to 7.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,477 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.