Reliability Report · Multi-Source Data

Ford Kuga Reliability

The Ford Kuga (current generation) scores 63/100 on our composite reliability index — average territory — drawn from ADAC, DVSA data. The most-flagged failure mode is powershift dual-clutch shudder / failure, typically surfacing between 60,000 and 150,000 km. Workshop repair runs €1,500–€3,500.

Composite Score
63
/ 100
Average
Sources: ADAC · DVSA · latest 2025
Market Snapshot
Documented issues1
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Reliability by Source

Each independent organization measures reliability differently. TÜV reports inspection defect rates by age band. ADAC reports pan-European breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles. NHTSA aggregates US consumer complaints. DVSA MOT data is the UK fleet's annual safety inspection — every car 3+ years old. Lower variance across sources = higher confidence in the composite.

ADAC (European Auto Club)
All model years · 2025 report
22.7/1000 breakdowns
View source ↗
43
/ 100
DVSA MOT (UK Inspections)
Model years 2004–2021 · 2024 report · n=377732
377,732 UK MOT tests · overall 16.4% fail rate vs UK fleet baseline
View source ↗
80
/ 100
DVSA MOT (UK Inspections)
Model years 2003–2020 · 2023 report · n=245182
245,182 UK MOT tests · overall 16.9% fail rate vs UK fleet baseline
View source ↗
75
/ 100

UK MOT Reliability Detail

Based on 377,732 MOT tests in the UK during the 2024reporting period. Score for each age band reflects this model's fail rate vs the UK-fleet baseline fail rate at the same age — a generation-aware metric.

Age 35 yrs
73
10.2% fail vs 10.9% fleet
65,892 tests
Age 69 yrs
82
13.5% fail vs 19.2% fleet
206,598 tests
Age 1014 yrs
79
25.1% fail vs 32.1% fleet
90,707 tests
Age 1520 yrs
77
32.1% fail vs 38.8% fleet
14,535 tests

Most Common MOT Failure Categories

#1
Condition
18,092
22.4%
#2
Wipers
16,829
20.9%
#3
Brake pads
16,505
20.5%
#4
Tread depth
15,619
19.4%
#5
Registration plate lamp(s)
13,612
16.9%

Categories ranked across all MOT tests of this model in the UK during the 2024period. "Condition" covers cosmetic / wear issues; suspension and braking dominate the rest.

Known Issues

Specific failure modes documented across European workshops, owner forums, and TSBs. Costs in EUR (and USD reference) reflect typical retail European labor + parts ranges — specialist shops at the low end, dealer pricing at the high end.

PowerShift dual-clutch shudder / failure
Typical at 60,000150,000 km
Mk2 Kuga shares PowerShift DPS6 with Focus — same shudder pattern. Manual or torque-converter variants fine.
€1,500€3,500high

Compare Against Alternatives

See how the Ford Kuga stacks up against direct rivals — same segment, similar price band, side-by-side risk + reliability.

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