Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2001 Ford Puma?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2001 Ford Puma?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2001 Ford Puma?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2001 Ford Puma vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

33% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2001 Ford Puma reliable?

Based on MOT data from 13,507 vehicles, the 2001 Ford Puma has a first-time MOT pass rate of 70.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2001 Ford Puma?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2001 Ford Puma are: Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (83.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (82.7% of vehicles), Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (81.8% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2001 Ford Puma?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ford Puma (2001)

13,507 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.2% first-time pass rate

2001 Ford Puma

CarHunch analysed 13,507 real MOT records for the 2001 Ford Puma. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2001 Ford Puma struggles significantly against the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 69.7% compared to 80%, and more worryingly, a third of examples (33.1%) have recorded dangerous defects during their MOT history—a real red flag for structural or safety issues. This isn't a reliable used car by MOT standards.

At 71,984 miles on average, these Pumas are moderately worn for their age, yet they're still racking up 4.31 failures and 22.2 advisories per test, suggesting systemic wear rather than isolated problems. Before purchasing one, get a pre-buy inspection from a Ford-specialist mechanic and budget for imminent repairs—these cars need more than the typical 23-year-old will.

The 2001 Ford Puma has a below-average first-time pass rate (70.2% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

70.2%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

33.1%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

4.31

Over 13.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

71k

Middle half: 57k–85k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 22.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 13,507 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 13,507 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 83.7%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 81.8%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 81.3%

Oil leak

Suspension & steering 52.4%

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement · Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 13,507 Ford Puma cars.

Before you buy a 2001 Ford Puma

Based on MOT data from 13,507 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (100%)	13,487	70.2%	4.31

Colour Breakdown

Based on 56,831 Ford Puma vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 39%

22,187

Black 22%

12,523

Blue 14.5%

8,219

Green 10.2%

5,809

Red 9.2%

5,204

Grey 2.9%

1,622

Yellow 1.7%

959

White 0.3%

162

Purple 0.2%

Pink 0.1%

Orange 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2001 Ford Puma vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

70,644

typical

57,100

low mileage

84,950

high mileage

Half of all 2001 Ford Puma vehicles fall between 57,100 and 84,950 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 57,100 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 57,100–84,950 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 Ford Pumas sit.

⚠ Over 114,682 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2001 Ford Puma — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 6% of 2001 Ford Pumas are still active.

Numbers are declining — 491 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (6% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

4.31

Avg failures per vehicle

22.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Puma: All Puma years → Which year to buy? →

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Buyer beware — pass it on