Ford Kuga Common Faults in the UK
Mk3, 2019+ — compact family PHEV/hybrid SUV. Updated 6 October 2026.
This guide covers the Mk3, 2019+ only. Older Kuga generations have different engines and faults — for one of those, see how to check any car for known faults.
The Mk3 Ford Kuga (2019+) is widely chosen as a plug-in hybrid for company-car tax. PHEVs built July 2019 to September 2020 are covered by DVSA high-voltage battery recalls, a 2.5 hybrid engine recall reaches 2022 builds, and a 2025 recall (R/2025/527, 49,466 vehicles built August 2019 to February 2026) is titled "Do not charge high voltage battery to levels above 80%" until a software update is done, so check any hybrid by registration. Owners also report 1.5 EcoBoost coolant loss. Best buy: 2021+. Worst: 2020.
Largest DVSA recall for the Kuga: R/2025/527, 49,466 vehicles — Kuga - Do not charge high voltage battery to levels above 80%. See the 11 DVSA recalls listed for this model.
90.5% of Ford Kugas registered 2019–2022 pass the MOT on the day (cars fixed during the test included), 1.6 points above all cars registered in those years (88.9%). These are the cars this guide covers that were 3 to 12 years old when DVSA tested them in 2025, counted from 10,301 DVSA tests; a pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.
Counting every registration year DVSA holds for the Ford Kuga (2008–2022), which includes generations this guide does not cover, 83.4% pass on the day (cars fixed during the test included), from 32,869 tests.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Compared against cars of the same registration years, because pass rates otherwise mostly measure how old a model's surviving fleet is.
See it by registration year and by mileage ↓At the end of June 2026 there were 381,478 Ford Kuga cars licensed for the road in the UK, up from 369,690 a year earlier. The figure covers every generation, not only the one this guide describes, and cars declared off the road (SORN) are not counted.
Source: Department for Transport and DVLA, Vehicle licensing statistics data files, table VEH0120 (April to June 2026 edition, published 23 September 2026), read 28 October 2026.
The asking-price figures above are the middle 80% and the median of what sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026 — not what buyers pay — for Ford Kuga cars registered from 2019. They are worked out from the cars on sale when this page is generated, and none is shown when fewer than 10 cars qualify. The road tax line comes from GOV.UK's vehicle tax rate tables (2026/27 rates). The other quick-stats values are indicative editorial estimates aggregated from owner-forum sentiment, recall data and reliability surveys. We do not publish a UK price index, and no figure here should be quoted as one.
Best and worst years to buy
We name a year as a best or worst buy only where the DVSA MOT table further down does not rate it the other way.
2021+ Kugas are built after the two 2020 high-voltage battery recalls and have improved SYNC 4 infotainment. They are not recall-free: 2.5 hybrid and plug-in cars built up to December 2022 are covered by R/2023/175 (an engine failure that may breach the oil sump or block; remedy is a software update) and its follow-up R/2025/243, and some PHEVs built to 2021 by battery recalls R/2022/167 and R/2022/003. Check the car by registration.
2023 and 2024 cars are too new for the DVSA table below, so there is no MOT record behind them yet.
2019–2020 Mk3 PHEVs are covered by DVSA recalls R/2020/224 (the high-voltage battery pack can overheat and vent hot gas, which can ignite vehicle components; built 1 July 2019 to 7 September 2020) and R/2020/317 (particle contamination can short-circuit battery cells; the remedy is a replacement battery pack; built January to September 2020). Check the registration before buying any 2019–2020 PHEV. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2019 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid.
Known faults — Ford Kuga Mk3, 2019+
How to read this list. Items marked Safety recall are DVSA safety recalls, shown with DVSA’s own reference. Whether a particular car is affected depends on when it was built: check it by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check. Everything else in this list is owner-reported: patterns that come up repeatedly with workshops, owner forums and reliability surveys. Those are worth checking on a viewing, but we hold no count of how many cars have each one, other than any survey share a card itself quotes. Treat an owner-reported item as a question to ask, not a fault this car has.
2.5 hybrid engine failure (safety recall)
- Symptoms
- DVSA recall wording: engine failure that may lead to a breach of the engine oil sump or engine block. The remedy is a software update
- Years affected
- Kuga 2.5 hybrid and plug-in hybrid built July 2019 to December 2022 (R/2023/175); some 2021–2022 cars recorded as fixed were not, so are recalled again (R/2025/243)
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under the recall at a Ford dealer
- What to check before buying
- Check the registration on GOV.UK’s recall check and ask for the Ford dealer record showing R/2023/175 (and R/2025/243 on 2021–2022 cars) was done.
DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2023/175 24,762; R/2025/243 547.
PHEV high-voltage battery overheating (safety recall)
- Symptoms
- DVSA recall wording: the HV battery pack can overheat and vent hot gas, which can ignite vehicle components or, in extreme cases, the entire vehicle. Until repaired, owners were told not to charge the car with the external cable
- Years affected
- Kuga PHEV built 1 July 2019 to 7 September 2020 (R/2020/224); built 13 January to 24 September 2020 (R/2020/317, battery cell contamination — the battery pack is replaced)
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under the recalls at a Ford dealer
- What to check before buying
- Before buying any 2019–2020 Kuga PHEV, check the registration on GOV.UK’s recall check and ask for the Ford dealer record showing R/2020/224 and, where it applies, R/2020/317 were done. If they have not, do not buy until they are. This is a fire-safety issue.
DVSA’s counts, recall by recall: R/2020/224 5,046; R/2020/317 2,326.
1.5 EcoBoost coolant loss — cylinder head (2019–2021)
- Symptoms
- Low coolant warning lamp; white smoke from exhaust on startup; creamy emulsion on the oil filler cap
- Years affected
- 2019–2021 (1.5 EcoBoost petrol; the PHEV uses a 2.5 engine)
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £800–£2,200 cylinder head gasket or EGR cooler repair
- What to check before buying
- Inspect the oil filler cap for creamy residue (head gasket symptom). Check coolant level and colour, and ask whether a Ford dealer has carried out any repair for coolant loss.
SYNC 3 / SYNC 4 infotainment freezing
- Symptoms
- Touchscreen unresponsive or slow to wake; Apple CarPlay or Android Auto drops out; system reboots mid-journey
- Years affected
- 2019–2021 (SYNC 3 — more affected); 2022+ SYNC 4 improved
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £0 — dealer or OTA software update resolves most cases
- What to check before buying
- During test drive, cycle through multiple menus, connect a phone via CarPlay, and check the system wakes quickly after startup. A free software update from a Ford dealer resolves most SYNC freezes. If the system crashes during your test, request the update before completing purchase.
Panoramic sunroof drain blockage
- Symptoms
- Water dripping into front or rear footwell; musty smell; staining on headliner fabric
- Years affected
- All panoramic roof variants
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £120–£350 drain flush and clear; £600–£1,200 headliner replacement if water-stained
- What to check before buying
- Check the front footwell carpet corners for dampness. A sunroof drain test (pour water around the seal edge, observe for leaks below) takes 2 minutes and can save a costly repair. Annual drain flush is good practice in the UK's wet climate.
PHEV charging speed — 3.7kW AC limit
- Symptoms
- Charging takes 3.5–4 hours from flat on a standard 7kW wallbox — slower than other PHEVs
- Years affected
- All Mk3 PHEV
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Not a fault — this is a design specification. No repair needed.
- What to check before buying
- Understand before buying: the Kuga PHEV accepts a maximum of 3.7kW AC input. On a 7kW home wallbox you'll charge at ~3.5kW effective rate. For comparison, the Hyundai Tucson PHEV accepts 7.4kW. Factor this into your overnight charging routine.
EGR valve and DPF fouling (2.0 EcoBlue diesel)
- Symptoms
- Engine Management Light on; reduced power; black smoke under hard acceleration
- Years affected
- 2019–2022 (2.0 EcoBlue diesel — the Mk3 Kuga's diesels are the 1.5 and 2.0 EcoBlue, not the older TDCi — less common in the UK post-2020) — Above 50,000 miles or high proportion of short journeys
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £450–£900 EGR clean or replacement; £600–£1,400 DPF forced regeneration or replacement
- What to check before buying
- Diesel Kugas are less common after 2020. If buying diesel, verify the service history shows regular long-run motorway journeys — short-trip diesel in UK conditions causes DPF regeneration failure and EGR fouling reliably.
More DVSA safety recalls for the Ford Kuga, largest first
These are the recalls DVSA lists for this model and its build years that the cards above do not already describe: every one of 10,000 or more vehicles, largest first, with DVSA’s own reference and figures. A recall covers only cars built in its dates and within its VIN range — check a particular car by registration through GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check. “Critical” here means DVSA’s own notice tells owners not to drive the car until it is fixed. It is never a size: “Large” means DVSA lists 10,000 or more vehicles in the recall.
- Safety recall · R/2025/527Large recall — 49,466 vehicles
Kuga - Do not charge high voltage battery to levels above 80%
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.
49,466 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 7 August 2019 and 27 February 2026 · recall launched 4 November 2025
- Safety recall · R/2026/355Large recall — 33,487 vehicles
Kuga – EDS Wiring touch
Affected vehicles may have a touch condition between a fixing screw and push nut to the Instrument Panel (IP) wiring harness. If the vehicle’s wiring is damaged different warning messages may appear depending on which wire is affected.
33,487 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 20 December 2024 and 24 July 2026 · recall launched 18 September 2026
- Safety recall · R/2020/196Large recall — 30,202 vehicles
The high voltage battery control charger module connector may be damaged
30,202 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 1 July 2019 and 31 July 2020 · recall launched 2 July 2020
- Safety recall · R/2022/231Large recall — 16,155 vehicles
Under certain operating conditions an oil and/or fuel vapour leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in an engine compartment or vehicle fire localized melting or smoke.
16,155 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 8 January 2020 and 1 July 2022 · recall launched 19 July 2022
- Safety recall · R/2023/080Large recall — 13,671 vehicles
In the event of a fuel injector failing this will potentially cause a fuel leak.
13,671 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 25 July 2019 and 14 December 2022 · recall launched 27 March 2023
- Safety recall · R/2026/366Large recall — 11,908 vehicles
Multi Vehicle Line: Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) Unexpected Activation / Deactivation
Affected vehicles have been identified where the Traffic Sign Recognition and Driver Alert System are being turned on or off without the expected notification to the driver.
11,908 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 12 September 2023 and 29 May 2026 · recall launched 28 September 2026
1 more recalls of 10,000+ vehicles
- Safety recall · R/2025/094Large recall — 10,905 vehicles
X-Car Powertain Control Module (PCM) Software Update
10,905 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 12 November 2019 and 30 September 2022 · recall launched 19 December 2024
Source: DVSA vehicle recalls file (every recall since 1992), published under the Open Government Licence. Where DVSA gives one figure for a recall that covers several models, it is shown as the whole recall’s total.
Ford Kuga MOT results by year and mileage
Measured from DVSA’s own MOT test records for tests carried out in 2025, not from owner reports.
By registration year
Against all cars registered in the same year, the MOT pass rate for the Kuga was higher in 9 and level in 1 of the 10 registration years from 2013 to 2022 with enough tests to measure. The widest gap above is 2017 registrations: 86.4% against 82.2%.
Pass rate here: passed on the day, cars fixed during the test included. Rows: every Ford Kuga DVSA tested in 2025, by registration year (2013–2022), all engines and fuels together. 2013–2018 registrations are older generations of the Kuga than this guide covers, shown for comparison; the guide’s own cars start in 2019. A registration year cannot separate two generations exactly when one replaced the other part-way through a year.
| Registered | Kuga | All cars that year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20222,642 tests | 93.5% | 91.2% | +2.3 higher |
| 20212,020 tests | 91.5% | 90.1% | +1.4 higher |
| 20201,570 tests | 90.1% | 88.7% | +1.4 level |
| 20194,069 tests | 88.1% | 86.9% | +1.2 higher |
| 20184,150 tests | 87.7% | 84.5% | +3.2 higher |
| 20173,914 tests | 86.4% | 82.2% | +4.2 higher |
| 20163,709 tests | 82.2% | 79.4% | +2.8 higher |
| 20153,298 tests | 78.7% | 76.7% | +2.0 higher |
| 20142,510 tests | 77.0% | 74.3% | +2.7 higher |
| 20131,309 tests | 74.3% | 71.9% | +2.4 higher |
By mileage at the test
Against cars of the same age on the same mileage, the pass rate for the Kuga was higher in every one of the 5 mileage bands with enough tests. How other models compare at the same mileage.
Show the table by mileage (5 bands)
| Mileage | Kuga | Same age and mileage | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20k–40k6,170 tests | 92.0% | 89.4% | +2.5 higher |
| 40k–60k7,558 tests | 87.3% | 84.1% | +3.3 higher |
| 60k–80k7,097 tests | 83.1% | 78.8% | +4.3 higher |
| 80k–100k4,997 tests | 76.5% | 73.8% | +2.7 higher |
| 100k–120k2,675 tests | 71.7% | 69.9% | +1.9 higher |
Only a major or dangerous defect fails an MOT. A minor defect is recorded on the certificate and the car still passes, and an advisory is not a failure at all.
We don’t give a recall count for the Ford Kuga: whether a recall applies depends on the individual car. Check the one you are looking at by entering its registration on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall checker, and see how to check a car for known faults for the other free checks.
Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0), a sample of the 2025 file (about one test in ten, from nine months) (3,459,000 tests). Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a pass here (passed on the day); DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Odometer readings below 100 or above 400,000 miles are discarded as misreadings, and cars under three years old are excluded because no MOT is yet due. Sampled from nine months of 2025 (January, February, April, May, July, August, September, October and November). Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. Registration years shown are cars 3 to 12 years old when tested; the smallest rests on 1,309 tests. A gap is called level when it is under one percentage point or inside the 95% sampling margin for that number of tests. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Who this car suits — and who should look elsewhere
Company car drivers benefiting from low BIK on PHEV (CO₂ under 50g/km). Families wanting a practical 5-seat SUV with home-charging for daily commutes. Buyers who charge at home and want meaningful EV range for short town journeys.
2019–2020 PHEV until confirmed recall is complete. Buyers who want to avoid plugging in should consider the FHEV (full hybrid) or Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Diesel buyers who mostly do short journeys: check Ford’s guidance on diesel use and DPF regeneration, ask about the car’s use, service record and any DPF warnings, and get an independent inspection if its history is unclear.
Alternatives to consider
If the Ford Kuga doesn't suit, these comparable models are worth a look in the UK market:
Ford Kuga: questions buyers ask
What are the most common faults on a used Ford Kuga in the UK?
The Mk3 Ford Kuga (2019+) is widely chosen as a plug-in hybrid for company-car tax. PHEVs built July 2019 to September 2020 are covered by DVSA high-voltage battery recalls, a 2.5 hybrid engine recall reaches 2022 builds, and a 2025 recall (R/2025/527, 49,466 vehicles built August 2019 to February 2026) is titled "Do not charge high voltage battery to levels above 80%" until a software update is done, so check any hybrid by registration. Owners also report 1.5 EcoBoost coolant loss. Best buy: 2021+. Worst: 2020.
What is the best year to buy a used Ford Kuga in the UK?
Best-buy years: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. 2021+ Kugas are built after the two 2020 high-voltage battery recalls and have improved SYNC 4 infotainment. They are not recall-free: 2.5 hybrid and plug-in cars built up to December 2022 are covered by R/2023/175 (an engine failure that may breach the oil sump or block; remedy is a software update) and its follow-up R/2025/243, and some PHEVs built to 2021 by battery recalls R/2022/167 and R/2022/003. Check the car by registration.
What years of Ford Kuga should I avoid in the UK?
Worst years: 2020. 2019–2020 Mk3 PHEVs are covered by DVSA recalls R/2020/224 (the high-voltage battery pack can overheat and vent hot gas, which can ignite vehicle components; built 1 July 2019 to 7 September 2020) and R/2020/317 (particle contamination can short-circuit battery cells; the remedy is a replacement battery pack; built January to September 2020). Check the registration before buying any 2019–2020 PHEV. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2019 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid.
How much does a used Ford Kuga cost in the UK in 2026?
What sellers were asking on Autoza on 29 October 2026, for Ford Kuga cars registered from 2019: £9,750–£16,999, median £12,900 — the range is the middle 80% of asking prices. Those are asking prices, not what buyers paid, and not a UK price index. Prices vary by mileage, region and trim, so compare several adverts of the same year and mileage band before negotiating.
What is the road tax (VED) on a Ford Kuga in the UK?
Annual road tax (VED): £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
What real-world fuel economy does a Ford Kuga achieve on UK roads?
Typical real-world consumption: PHEV: 35–42 miles of official electric range depending on model year and wheel size; real UK use gives less than that, and less again in winter. Once the battery is flat it drives as an ordinary hybrid at roughly 39–49 mpg, so the economy you get depends almost entirely on whether you can charge at home. FHEV (non-plug-in): 40–47 mpg real-world UK mixed.
How does a Ford Kuga compare to its rivals?
Strong alternatives in the UK: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson PHEV, Kia Sportage PHEV, Volkswagen Tiguan, Skoda Karoq. Choose based on dealer network in your area, parts availability, and your priorities (running cost vs. cabin quality vs. badge).
Who is the Ford Kuga most suitable for?
Company car drivers benefiting from low BIK on PHEV (CO₂ under 50g/km). Families wanting a practical 5-seat SUV with home-charging for daily commutes. Buyers who charge at home and want meaningful EV range for short town journeys.
Who should NOT buy a Ford Kuga?
2019–2020 PHEV until confirmed recall is complete. Buyers who want to avoid plugging in should consider the FHEV (full hybrid) or Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Diesel buyers who mostly do short journeys: check Ford’s guidance on diesel use and DPF regeneration, ask about the car’s use, service record and any DPF warnings, and get an independent inspection if its history is unclear.
Are there safety recalls on the Ford Kuga?
DVSA lists 13 safety recalls for the Ford Kuga that this guide shows or names, the largest first: R/2025/527 (49,466 vehicles, built between 7 August 2019 and 27 February 2026): Kuga - Do not charge high voltage battery to levels above 80%; R/2026/355 (33,487 vehicles, built between 20 December 2024 and 24 July 2026): Kuga – EDS Wiring touch; R/2020/196 (30,202 vehicles, built between 1 July 2019 and 31 July 2020): The high voltage battery control charger module connector may be damaged. Whether a particular car is affected depends on its build date and VIN, so check its registration on GOV.UK (gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall) before you buy.
Is the 2.5 hybrid engine failure (safety recall) on the Ford Kuga a serious problem?
2.5 hybrid engine failure (safety recall) on the Ford Kuga is covered by DVSA safety recall R/2023/175. Symptoms: DVSA recall wording: engine failure that may lead to a breach of the engine oil sump or engine block. The remedy is a software update. Years affected: Kuga 2.5 hybrid and plug-in hybrid built July 2019 to December 2022 (R/2023/175); some 2021–2022 cars recorded as fixed were not, so are recalled again (R/2025/243). Indicative repair cost in the UK: Free under the recall at a Ford dealer. What to check before buying: Check the registration on GOV.UK’s recall check and ask for the Ford dealer record showing R/2023/175 (and R/2025/243 on 2021–2022 cars) was done.
Is the 1.5 EcoBoost coolant loss — cylinder head (2019–2021) on the Ford Kuga a serious problem?
Owner-reported, frequency unknown: 1.5 EcoBoost coolant loss — cylinder head (2019–2021) comes up in owner forums and workshop reports for the Ford Kuga, but how often it happens is not known, so treat it as a question to ask rather than a fault every car has. Symptoms: Low coolant warning lamp; white smoke from exhaust on startup; creamy emulsion on the oil filler cap. Years affected: 2019–2021 (1.5 EcoBoost petrol; the PHEV uses a 2.5 engine). Indicative repair cost in the UK: £800–£2,200 cylinder head gasket or EGR cooler repair. What to check before buying: Inspect the oil filler cap for creamy residue (head gasket symptom). Check coolant level and colour, and ask whether a Ford dealer has carried out any repair for coolant loss.
Check these next
The guide above is about the Ford Kuga as a model. These are about the car in front of you.
- Browse Ford Kuga listings on AutozaEvery one listed now.
- Check any car by its registrationFree: its MOT history, tax status and any open recall, from a number plate.
- Work out the road tax for the KugaVehicle tax (VED) by registration date, CO2 and list price.
- Work out the monthly payment on a £12,900 KugaThe median asking price on Autoza on 29 October 2026, not what buyers pay: change it to the car you are looking at.
- What is your Kuga worth?A price range from dealers' asking prices for comparable cars.
Looking to buy a Ford Kuga in the UK?
Search Autoza listings filtered by year, mileage, and region. Every dealer page shows the business name, address and contact details, so you can check the business before you enquire.