2021 Ford Kuga St-Line X Phev Cvt — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,426 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Ford Kuga St-Line X Phev Cvt, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 93.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.0% | 96 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 41 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 40 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 15 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.6% | 14 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 41 |
| 2 | Washers | 35 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 4 | Wipers | 11 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 8 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 7 |
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 | 19.8% | 480 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.1% | 245 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 184 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.2% | 176 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 47 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 6 |
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 | 1,211 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,055 | 7.8% |
| 60-90k | 128 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 89 | 4.5% |
| 2024 | 1,196 | 7.0% |
| 2025 | 1,141 | 6.6% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Kuga St-Line X Phev Cvt
Before buying a 2021 Ford Kuga St-Line X Phev Cvt, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 4.0% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (4.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.7% 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.
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 St-Line X Phev Cvts pass their MOT?
93.3% of the 2,426 2021 Ford Kuga St-Line X Phev Cvt MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford Kuga St-Line X Phev Cvt?
Tyres, recorded in 4.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2021 Kuga St-Line X Phev Cvt get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 9.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,426 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.