2020 Ford Kuga First — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,347 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Ford Kuga First, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 91.5% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 13.3% in the 60-90k group versus 6.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.4% | 103 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.4% | 56 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 47 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.9% | 44 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.5% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 7 |
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 | 64 |
| 2 | Washers | 45 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 43 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 40 |
| 5 | Wipers | 18 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 16 |
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 | 19.7% | 463 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.2% | 404 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 217 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.2% | 168 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 42 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 41 |
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 | 1,451 | 6.6% |
| 30-60k | 845 | 11.5% |
| 60-90k | 45 | 13.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 766 | 5.7% |
| 2024 | 765 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 803 | 10.5% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Kuga First
Before buying a 2020 Ford Kuga First, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.4% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.4% 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 (2.4% 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 (2.0% 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 2020 Ford Kuga Firsts pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 2,347 2020 Ford Kuga First MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Kuga First?
Tyres, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by visibility (2.4%).
Does the 2020 Kuga First get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.6% in the 0-30k band to 13.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,347 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.