Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Ford Kuga.
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With 373,284 currently licensed in the UK, the Ford Kuga is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Kuga 5 stars in 2019, with 92% adult occupant and 86% child protection scores.
It has a 79.3% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, tyres.
Annual running costs are estimated at £1,783 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £149/month or 22p/mile.
Theft risk is rated moderate at 5.7 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
79.3%
210,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£149
est. annual total
New From
£33,000
Euro NCAP tested the Kuga in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
92%
Child Occupant
86%
Pedestrian
82%
Safety Assist
82%
There are 113 known DVSA recalls affecting the Ford Kuga. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/030
On affected vehicles the software repair for previous recall 25C79 may not have been delivered properly and the Powertrain Control Module software may deliver lower power output than intended.
Build dates: 2019-07-24 to 2020-03-13
R/2025/527
On affected vehicles the high voltage battery may have some cells that could potentially develop a short circuit leading to a Stop Safely Now message and possible loss of motive power or battery thermal venting.
Build dates: 2019-11-26 to 2021-03-16
R/2025/527
On affected vehicles the high voltage battery may have some cells that could potentially develop a short circuit leading to a Stop Safely Now message and possible loss of motive power or battery thermal venting.
Build dates: 2020-06-05 to 2020-12-22
R/2025/527
On affected vehicles the high voltage battery may have some cells that could potentially develop a short circuit leading to a Stop Safely Now message and possible loss of motive power or battery thermal venting.
Build dates: 2020-12-01 to 2021-04-20
R/2025/527
On affected vehicles the high voltage battery may have some cells that could potentially develop a short circuit leading to a Stop Safely Now message and possible loss of motive power or battery thermal venting.
Build dates: 2021-03-16 to 2021-06-17
+ 108 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 210,000 MOT tests, the Kuga has a first-time pass rate of 79.3% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Kuga is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Ford Kuga are estimated at around £1,783 per year, or £149 per month.
Fuel
£0
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,333
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
Battery
14 kWh
Range (WLTP)
35 mi
Motor
97 kW
130 bhp
Drive
FWD
Starting from £33,000 new, a Ford Kuga typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £24,750 | −£8,250 |
| 2 years | 64% | £21,050 | −£11,950 |
| 3 years | 56% | £18,500 | −£14,500 |
| 4 years | 50% | £16,650 | −£16,350 |
| 5 years | 46% | £15,350 | −£17,650 |
| 6 years | 43% | £14,250 | −£18,750 |
| 7 years | 41% | £13,400 | −£19,600 |
| 8 years | 39% | £12,750 | −£20,250 |
| 9 years | 37% | £12,100 | −£20,900 |
| 10 years | 35% | £11,500 | −£21,500 |
The Kuga has a theft rate of 5.7 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 373,284 licensed and 7,013 SORN Kugas in the UK (380,297 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Kuga has a 79.3% first-time MOT pass rate based on 210,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Kuga 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 92% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child occupant protection, 82% for vulnerable road users, and 82% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Kuga are estimated at around £1,783 per year (£149/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 113 known safety recalls affecting the Kuga. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Kuga has a theft rate of 5.7 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new Kuga starts from around £33,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
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Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
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