Ford Kuga (2017)

37,417 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.7% first-time pass rate

2017 Ford Kuga

CarHunch analysed 37,417 real MOT records for the 2017 Ford Kuga. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2017 Ford Kuga is a solid performer on the MOT bench, with an 89.7% first-time pass rate that comfortably beats the UK average of 80%, and petrol and diesel variants are equally reliable. However, one in four of these vehicles (26.2%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a meaningful red flag for any buyer to investigate before purchase.

At 44,700 miles median, these Kugas are showing reasonable mileage for their age, and the 0.82 average failures per vehicle suggests most issues are minor when they do occur. The high advisory count of 7.6 per vehicle points to wear items like worn brakes and suspension components becoming more common, so factor in maintenance costs when budgeting—and always get a pre-purchase inspection to confirm no dangerous defects are lurking on your specific car.

Below average reliability 9.7% above UK average
89.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
44,701
typical mileage
34,708–56,027 middle half
26.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.82
avg MOT failures per car
over 7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2017 Ford Kuga

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.
  • ⚠️ 26.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 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

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 (82%) 30,717 89.7% 0.82
Petrol (18%) 6,698 89.8% 0.83
Diesel (0%) 2 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2017 Ford Kuga 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.

34,708
low mileage
44,701
typical
56,027
high mileage

Half of all 2017 Ford Kuga vehicles fall between 34,708 and 56,027 miles.

2017 Ford Kuga — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 35,457 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

36,416 35,457 2020 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.

MOT History Averages

7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.82
Avg failures per vehicle
7.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2017 Ford Kuga

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 49.7%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 48.5%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 37%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 36%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 21.6%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 20.8%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 20.6%
    Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 20.3%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2017. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Ford Kuga?

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

UK

Other model years — Ford Kuga:

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022