Used car guide · 1997–2026

Ford Puma common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Ford Puma, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 180,024 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

180,024MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
271,346on the UK register
6known faults across all years
2021best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

20262025202420232022202120202019200220012000199919981997

What usually goes wrong with a Ford Puma?

Known faults reported by owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Most apply to certain years or engines only, so check which the car has.

  • Driver's airbag recall

    Cars registered 2019–2026 · Cars built Nov 2019 - Jan 2020

    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

  • Wet cambelt on EcoBoost engines

    Cars registered 2019–2026 · All 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.

    Source: Auto Express: used Ford Puma review

  • Timing belt that runs in oil (1.0 EcoBoost)

    Cars registered 2019–2025 · 1.0 petrol (EcoBoost and non-turbo)

    Ford’s 1.0 three-cylinder petrol uses a timing belt that runs in the engine oil on most cars. If oil changes are late or the wrong oil is used, the belt breaks down and sheds rubber that blocks the oil supply, which can wreck the engine. Some later cars have a timing chain instead: a Ford dealer can tell you from the VIN. Ford’s change interval is 10 years or 150,000 miles, and the belt isn’t covered by warranty.

    At the viewing: Ask for a full service history with the right oil, and when the belt was changed. An oil-pressure warning light, a rattle or a rough idle are warning signs.

    Source: Parkers: everything you need to know about the Ford wet belt

  • Mild-hybrid battery connection recalls

    Cars registered 2019–2026 · 1.0 EcoBoost mild hybrid, built Nov 2019 - Nov 2020

    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.

    Source: Auto Express: used Ford Puma review

  • eCall emergency-call software recalls

    Cars registered 2019–2026 · Some cars built Jul 2019 - Feb 2021 and May - Jul 2022

    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.

    Source: Auto Express: used Ford Puma review

  • Noisy brakes

    Cars registered 2019–2026 · All engines

    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.

    Source: Auto Express: used Ford Puma review

Common Ford Puma MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Rust in key structural areas

    up to 4.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

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

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Flexible brake hoses

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Steering swivel joints

    up to 5.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2001.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Wheels

    up to 5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001 and 2002.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1999 and 2000.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Ford Puma MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2021 Ford Puma did best (92% passed first time, 5 points above all 2021 cars) and the 2023 did worst (95%, 3 points above all 2023 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202395%92% +32,330
202292%89% +337,276
202192%87% +557,108
202091%87% +476,384
201989%85% +4550
200260%58% +21,430
200162%60% +21,892
200063%61% +21,767
199959%63% -4877
199855%65% -10410 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Ford Puma

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

  1. Has the airbag recall been done? Do you have a dealer invoice or record for it?
  2. Has the cambelt been changed yet? If so, at what mileage, and was the correct oil always used at services?
  3. Has the timing belt been changed, and is there a full service history with the right oil?
  4. Any recent work on the rust in key structural areas? (Flagged at MOT 4.7× as often on the Ford Puma as on other cars the same age.)
  5. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Ford Puma as on other cars the same age.)
  6. Any recent work on the flexible brake hoses? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Ford Puma as on other cars the same age.)

Looking at a Ford Puma?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score