2015 Ford Kuga — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 178,095 MOT tests analysed for the 2015 Ford Kuga, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes. Its pass rate of 85.9% was above the average for mid-size SUVs of a similar age (84.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 21.0% in the 150k+ group versus 6.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 12,071 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.1% | 10,863 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.5% | 8,024 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 6,194 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 2,448 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 2,201 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 7,884 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 5,579 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 5,384 |
| 4 | Wipers | 4,827 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 3,602 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 3,507 |
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 | 26.1% | 46,511 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.6% | 33,187 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.4% | 20,246 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.7% | 17,267 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 6,304 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 5,456 |
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 | 8,365 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 67,241 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 70,661 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 25,430 | 19.4% |
| 120-150k | 5,055 | 20.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,255 | 21.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 159,461 | 14.3% |
| Petrol | 18,634 | 12.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34,735 | 10.9% |
| 2022 | 35,218 | 12.4% |
| 2023 | 35,630 | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 36,153 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 36,359 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 2015 Kuga
Before buying a 2015 Ford Kuga, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 6.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.1% 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.
- Brakes (4.5% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2015 Ford Kugas pass their MOT?
85.9% of the 178,095 2015 Ford Kuga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Ford Kuga?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by tyres (6.1%).
Does the 2015 Kuga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 178,095 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.