2026 Ford Puma: known problems and what to check
Cars registered in 2026 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. Here’s what we do know about the 2026 Ford Puma, and what to check before you buy one.
Known faults on the 2026 Ford Puma
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.
- Cars built Nov 2019 - Jan 2020
Driver's airbag recall
In February 2020 Ford recalled 24,249 Pumas built from November 2019 to January 2020 because of an airbag fault. What Car? says the airbag module's retaining springs might not lock it securely to the steering wheel.
At the viewing: Run the VIN through the gov.uk recall checker, or ask a Ford dealer to confirm the work was done, on any car built from November 2019 to January 2020.
Source: Auto Express: used Ford Puma review, What Car?: used Ford Puma reliability
- All EcoBoost engines
Wet cambelt on EcoBoost engines
The cambelt on EcoBoost engines runs inside the engine oil. Ford's official interval is 10 years or 120,000 miles, but Auto Express advises changing it much sooner, at 6-8 years or 60,000-80,000 miles, because the belt can fail. A replacement costs around £1,000.
At the viewing: Look in the service history for a cambelt change, and check that the car was serviced on time with the correct oil.
- 1.0 EcoBoost mild hybrid, built Nov 2019 - Nov 2020
Mild-hybrid battery connection recalls
Two recalls covered poor connections on the mild-hybrid battery. The first (August 2020) covered 428 cars built from November 2019 to July 2020. The second (January 2021) covered cars built from June to November 2020. The dealer fix is to check the connections and tighten them to Ford's specification.
At the viewing: Confirm with a recall check or a Ford dealer that the work is recorded. During the test drive, make sure the start-stop and hybrid systems work and no warning lights show.
- Some cars built Jul 2019 - Feb 2021 and May - Jul 2022
eCall emergency-call software recalls
Faults in the automatic emergency-call (eCall) system led to two recalls. The first (May 2021) covered some cars built from July 2019 to February 2021. The second (July 2022) covered some built from May to July 2022. The fix is a software update.
At the viewing: Run a recall check on the VIN and make sure no SOS or eCall warning appears on the dashboard.
- All engines
Noisy brakes
Owners often complain of noisy brakes, and the Puma scored poorly for brakes in the Driver Power survey.
At the viewing: On the test drive, brake gently and firmly several times and listen for squealing or grinding.
Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2026 Ford Puma
Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.
- Has the airbag recall been done? Do you have a dealer invoice or record for it?
- Has the cambelt been changed yet? If so, at what mileage, and was the correct oil always used at services?
- Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?
What to check on a 2026 car
- Warranty left
Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.
- Servicing
Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.
- Finance
Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.
- Recalls
Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.
- Logbook (V5C)
The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.
Looking at a Ford Puma?
Check the actual car: tax, ULEZ, fuel costs and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.
Other years
Every year of the Ford Puma compared
| Year | MOT tests | Most flagged |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2024 | – | Too new for MOT data |
| 2023 | 2,330 | Tyres 9% |
| 2022 | 37,276 | Tyres 20% |
| 2021 | 57,108 | Tyres 19% |
| 2020 | 76,384 | Tyres 21% |
| 2019 | 550 | Tyres 27% |
| 2002 | 1,430 | Suspension 48% |
| 2001 | 1,892 | Suspension 45% |
| 2000 | 1,767 | Suspension 40% |
| 1999 | 877 | Suspension 44% |
| 1998 | 410 | Suspension 46% |
| 1997 | – | Too few tests |
Where this comes from: how many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics (DVLA records), counted by the year each car was first registered. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score