2002 Ford Puma — MOT failures & pass rate
3,577 MOT tests on the 2002 Ford Puma are in this dataset, and 70.2% of them passed. Small SUVs of a similar age fail 28.2% of the time, so this is 1.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 19.0% of tests against 12.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and flexible brake hoses — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 644 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.4% once past 150k — 4.3× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 37.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.4% in 2021 to 26.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.0% | 680 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.1% | 432 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 339 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.8% | 280 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.0% | 215 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.4% | 192 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 644 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 323 |
| 3 | Flexible brake hoses | 233 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 227 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 209 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 206 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 37.7% | 1,350 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.6% | 1,308 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 26.8% | 959 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.6% | 809 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.6% | 486 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 418 |
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 | 154 | 8.4% |
| 30-60k | 871 | 24.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,236 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 915 | 34.3% |
| 120-150k | 291 | 35.7% |
| 150k+ | 110 | 36.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 973 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 817 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 715 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 597 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 475 | 26.7% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Puma
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (12.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% 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 2002 Ford Pumas pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 3,577 2002 Ford Puma MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Ford Puma?
Suspension, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by brakes (12.1%).
Does the 2002 Puma get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.4% in the 0-30k band to 36.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,577 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.