2021 Ford Kuga Ecoblue — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,688 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Ford Kuga Ecoblue, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 90.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 14.7% in the 90-120k group versus 8.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.5% | 130 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.7% | 100 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 79 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 69 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.8% | 66 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.4% | 52 |
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 | 87 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 75 |
| 3 | Washers | 68 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 63 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 60 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 50 |
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 | 21.3% | 784 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.5% | 682 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.1% | 445 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.9% | 292 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.0% | 73 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 31 |
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 | 1,771 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,691 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 184 | 13.6% |
| 90-120k | 34 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 156 | 11.5% |
| 2024 | 1,841 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 1,691 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Kuga Ecoblue
Before buying a 2021 Ford Kuga Ecoblue, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 3.5% of tests for this year.
- 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 (2.7% 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 2021 Ford Kuga Ecoblues pass their MOT?
90.4% of the 3,688 2021 Ford Kuga Ecoblue MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford Kuga Ecoblue?
Tyres, recorded in 3.5% of tests, followed by visibility (2.7%).
Does the 2021 Kuga Ecoblue get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 14.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,688 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.