Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci (2008)

114 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.7% first-time pass rate

2008 Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci

CarHunch analysed 114 real MOT records for the 2008 Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2008 Ford Kuga Zetec TDCi has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.7%, which sits noticeably below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these diesels are more likely to need repairs before passing their test. The good news is that dangerous defects are absent from this cohort, so safety-critical failures aren't a pattern here.

At 132,000 miles median mileage for a 16-year-old vehicle, these Kugas have been driven hard but are holding up reasonably well—the 0.96 average failures per test points to manageable wear items rather than structural problems. Before buying one, budget for pre-purchase inspection focused on the cooling system and suspension, since those are the typical culprits dragging the pass rate down on this generation diesel.

Below average reliability 8.3% below UK average
71.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
132,357
typical mileage
116,517–147,374 middle half
0%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.96
avg MOT failures per car
over 5.8 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2008 Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (99%) 113 71.4% 0.97
Gas Bi-Fuel (1%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

116,517
low mileage
132,357
typical
147,374
high mileage

Half of all 2008 Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci vehicles fall between 116,517 and 147,374 miles.

2008 Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci — Still on the Road

46 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 51% of the peak remain.

46 46 2017 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.96
Avg failures per vehicle
0
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Ford Kuga Zetec Tdci:

2009 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018