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Ford Kuga Mk3 (2020-present) reliability

At a glance

Ford Kuga Mk3 built around 2020: about average at the MOT

Ford Kuga Mk3 models built around 2020 fail their MOT about as often as similar cars the same age.

Looking at a Ford Kuga Mk3?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Key figure

13% of MOT tests on Ford Kuga Mk3 models built around 2020 ended in a fail (retests included), against 12% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Ford Kuga Mk3 models built around 2020 involves the tyres.

Ford Kuga Mk3
average reliability2020-presentSUVDIESEL / HYBRID ELECTRIC / PETROL

Based on 57,385 tests of Kuga models registered 2020+.

About 1 in 10 diesel Kuga cars registered in 2022 (9.6%) failed their first MOT.

Based on 6,888 first MOTs (DVSA MOT results, 2025).

About 1 in 50 Kuga Mk3 MOTs (1.9%) failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. That's for cars built around 2020 (5 years old), all fuels combined.

Based on 9,184 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted. Nor is a fail with no later MOT on record.

About 1 in 25 Kuga Mk3 MOTs (3.9%) found at least one dangerous defect. These are cars built around 2020 (5 years old).

Based on 9,184 tests (DVSA MOT results, 2025). Dangerous is the most serious grade an MOT gives: a direct risk to road safety.

Mk3 fail rate by age

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for cars this age
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
25,3247.9%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
22,87710.6%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
9,18413.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 5 years old.

How the Kuga Mk3 compares

At each age below, see how the Kuga Mk3 holds up against other cars the same age. The averages combine all fuel types.

Based on 220,711 tests across 17 Ford models, built around 2020 (5 years old).

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateFord average
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
25,3247.9%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
22,87710.6%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
9,18413.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs.

What to check before viewing

The model's most common MOT issues, turned into things you can ask about or look for.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

Other SUVs to compare

Other SUVs, with each one's figures taken at the same age as the Kuga Mk3.

  1. 1

    Lexus UX

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    7.1%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.6%
    Dangerous
    2.3%

    Lower fail rate: 7.1%, against 13.1% for the Ford Kuga Mk3, both built around 2020.

    4,133 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  2. 2

    Lexus RX

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    4.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.8%
    Dangerous
    1.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90.4%

    Lower fail rate: 4.9%, against 13.1% for the Ford Kuga Mk3, both built around 2020.

    1,790 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  3. 3

    Mitsubishi Eclipse

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.3%

    No clear edge over the Ford Kuga Mk3 on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    1,475 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

  4. 4

    Honda HR-V

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    8%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.6%
    Dangerous
    2.8%
    Still registered at 10 years
    97%

    Lower fail rate: 8.0%, against 13.1% for the Ford Kuga Mk3, both built around 2020.

    4,166 MOT tests on cars built around 2020

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Recall context

144 recalls in all

31 of the 144 Kuga Mk3 recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 5 Critical
  • 26 more

Top concerns

  • 26S62 Kuga – EDS wiring touch
  • 25S54 Kuga S-Max and galaxy - powertrain control module (PCM) software update
  • 25S21 Kuga - powertrain control module (PCM) software update

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

How Kuga Mk3 cars have aged

How Kuga Mk3 cars have aged

How fail rates have changed as these cars got older. Each line follows cars first registered in about the same year across several years of MOT data. Not a prediction for any one car.

Some lines cover only a year or two, so read this as a rough guide.

0%10%345Age at MOTBuilt around 2021, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 8.6% (15,093 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2021, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 10.5% (14,552 tests, 2025 data)2021Built around 2020, 3 years old at the time of MOT: 8.8% (10,567 tests, 2023 data)Built around 2020, 4 years old at the time of MOT: 9.5% (9,495 tests, 2024 data)Built around 2020, 5 years old at the time of MOT: 13.1% (9,184 tests, 2025 data)2020
First registered around 2021First registered around 2020
Mk3 variants compared

Kuga Mk3 variants built around 2020

The fail rate for each Kuga Mk3 variant, grouped by fuel. Each row counts fails per MOT test, the same way as the main fail rate chart.

Diesel

  • KUGA14.4%1,058 tests
  • KUGA TITANIUM FIRST ED EBLUE14.6%364 tests
  • KUGA TITANIUM ECOBLUE16.9%343 tests
  • KUGA ST-LINE FIRST ED E-BLUE17.7%288 tests
  • KUGA ST-LN FIRST ED EBLUE MHEV13.2%287 tests
  • KUGA ST-LINE X ECOBLUE MHEV10.8%213 tests
  • KUGA ST-LINE ECOBLUE MHEV18.4%201 tests

Petrol

  • KUGA ST-LINE FIRST EDITION14.2%632 tests
  • KUGA TITANIUM FIRST EDITION12.2%469 tests
  • KUGA ST-LINE X FIRST EDITION13.4%262 tests
  • KUGA TITANIUM13.9%216 tests

Hybrid electric

  • KUGA ST-LINE FIRST ED PHEV CVT11.0%489 tests
  • KUGA ST-LN X FIRST ED PHEV CVT11.4%403 tests
  • KUGA TITANIUM FRST ED PHEV CVT10.4%250 tests
  • KUGA ST-LINE X PHEV CVT10.2%205 tests
All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common issues on Ford Kugas of this age

This list covers every Ford Kuga built around 2020, whichever generation it is. We don't have a defect list for the Mk3 on its own.

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    18.5%
    Advisory: 8,459Fail: 539 (6% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    16.1%
    Advisory: 5,572Fail: 820 (13% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    8.5%
    Advisory: 3,445Fail: 283 (8% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    7.9%
    Advisory: 2,958Fail: 37 (1% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    3.0%
    Advisory: 1,184Fail: 114 (9% of the times it was found)

Based on 29,286 tests

Looking at a Ford Kuga Mk3?

Enter its number plate to see its full MOT history, risk rating and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2020 (5 years old), the Ford Kuga Mk3 (2020-present) fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. This is based on 9,184 5-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

*The build year is worked out from the date a car was first used on UK roads. For most cars this matches when it was registered, but imports may differ by a few months.

Data sourced from DVSA MOT History API. From 57,385 MOT tests on Ford Kugas first registered from 2020. These figures are a guide, not a guarantee.