Used car guide

2001 Ford Cougar: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Ford Cougar first registered in 2001: we looked at the 353 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 353 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

353MOTs of 2001 cars, done in 2023–2025
62%pass first time (all 2001 cars: 60%)
3,600typical miles a year
4×the usual rate for sub-frame

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2001 Ford Cougar?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2001 Ford Cougar than on all cars registered in 2001.

  • Sub-frame4× usual
    Ford Cougar
    16.7% All 2001 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.2% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

Common 2001 Ford Cougar MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2001 Ford Cougar MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    49% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    44% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    17% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    14% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2001 Ford Cougar

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 4× as often on the 2001 Ford Cougar as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ford Cougar?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Ford Cougar compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2000498Brakes 51%
1999416Brakes 50%
1998–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Ford Cougar cars first registered in 2001. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score