Part of the Ford Kuga Mk2 (2013–2020) guide: best and worst years compared.

Used car guide

2017 Ford Kuga diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Ford Kuga first registered in 2017 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 89,811 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

89,811MOTs of 2017 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
84%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 80%)
8,200typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for engine oil leaks

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 Ford Kuga diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 Ford Kuga diesel than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Engine oil leaks1.7× usual
    Ford Kuga
    2.6% All 2017 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

Common 2017 Ford Kuga diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 Ford Kuga diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    30% 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.

  • Brakes
    23% 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
    8% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    6% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    4% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Known faults on the 2017 Ford Kuga diesel

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 Ford Kuga diesel

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

  1. Any recent work on the engine oil leaks? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2017 Ford Kuga diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ford Kuga?

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 Kuga compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2025–Too new for MOT data
2024–Too new for MOT data
20231,419Tyres 14%
202228,082Tyres 19%
202142,414Tyres 22%
202045,754Tyres 22%
2019120,852Tyres 26%
2018114,082Tyres 30%
201698,930Tyres 31%
201591,248Tyres 32%
201467,264Tyres 34%
201337,769Tyres 34%
201227,782Tyres 36%
201126,371Suspension 39%
201027,535Suspension 41%
200921,787Suspension 41%
20087,533Suspension 41%

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 Kuga cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score