Ford Puma ST — MOT pass rate & failures
The Ford Puma ST passed 94.5% of its 7,543 MOT tests, covering model years 2020–2024. That is 2.0 percentage points better than the 7.6% fail rate across all Ford Puma versions, so the Puma ST is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and catalyst emissions — tread depth alone was recorded 122 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.0% once past 60-90k — 2.9× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 18.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.4% of tests failed in 2023 against 5.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 249 | 94.4% | 5.6% |
| 2021 | 3,776 | 93.7% | 6.3% |
| 2022 | 3,268 | 95.2% | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 246 | 97.6% | 2.4% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.6% | 273 |
| 2 | Visibility | 0.9% | 68 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 65 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 62 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 37 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.3% | 24 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 12 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 122 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 57 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 56 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 54 |
| 5 | Washers | 51 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 41 |
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 | 18.1% | 1,362 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.0% | 832 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.5% | 411 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.0% | 74 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.9% | 71 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 36 |
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 | 5,710 | 4.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,784 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 43 | 14.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 166 | 2.4% |
| 2024 | 2,129 | 5.7% |
| 2025 | 5,247 | 5.6% |
What to check before buying a Ford Puma ST
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (3.6% 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 (0.9% 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 (0.9% 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 reliable is the Ford Puma ST at MOT time?
94.5% of the 7,543 Ford Puma ST MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.5% fail rate, better than the 7.6% average across all Puma versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Ford Puma ST?
Tyres, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by visibility (0.9%).
Does the Puma ST get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.8% in the 0-30k band to 14.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,543 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.