2017 Ford Kuga 1.5L Diesel · NU17 AAN

The defining mechanical feature of this Ford Kuga's MOT history is a persistent pattern of rear suspension wear on the trailing arm bushes, culminating in an outright fail in September 2025. On that test, the offside rear trailing arm bush was deemed excessively worn and categorised as a Major defect, while the nearside equivalent was flagged as an advisory on the same inspection, suggesting the deterioration was already affecting both sides. The fact that the vehicle then passed cleanly at the very next test in June 2026 indicates the trailing arm components were repaired or replaced in the intervening nine months, which is the only plausible route to a defect-free pass after such a recent Major item. The supporting advisories on that 2025 failure — front brake pads wearing thin and front tyres approaching the legal minimum — also point to consumables being run close to their service limits, which a buyer should treat as items likely to require attention imminently. With 79,031 miles recorded over nine years, the vehicle is accumulating roughly 8,780 miles annually, which sits comfortably within the typical range for a family SUV of this age and suggests regular rather than sporadic use. The MOT testing pattern shows annual tests from 2023 onwards with no significant gaps, consistent with a car that has remained in active service. There are no extended periods off the road within the recorded history, and mileage accumulation between tests appears proportionate to the intervals, indicating nothing unusual about how the vehicle has been used. Steady usage of this nature generally keeps the drivetrain, seals and brake system working rather than allowing corrosion to take hold through long-standing periods. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection focus must be the rear suspension geometry. The trailing arm bush failure in 2025 is the most significant mechanical event on the record, and even though a subsequent pass was achieved, it is essential to physically verify that the repair was carried out properly. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking noises from the rear axle over uneven surfaces, speed humps and undulating roads, and check for any wandering or instability from the rear end during direction changes. Visually inspect the trailing arm bushes for fresh cracking, distortion or oil staining from the new components, and confirm the condition of the spring and shock absorber mounting points as well, since rear suspension problems on Kugas of this generation can occasionally affect adjacent components. The brake and tyre advisories also warrant close physical scrutiny before purchase. With front pads noted as wearing thin as recently as September 2025 and rear pads flagged with similar wording back in 2023, the braking system should be inspected for remaining pad material, disc lipping and any judder through the pedal under firm braking. Because the rear brake system was last flagged two years prior to the recent advisories, a buyer should also check that the handbrake holds reliably on an incline. The recurring tyre edge-wear advisories on both front and rear axles across multiple tests suggest the vehicle may have a tracking or geometry concern, possibly linked to the suspension wear already discussed, so a four-wheel alignment check would be prudent. Finally, given the offside rear Major was repaired just prior to the most recent pass, retain any documentation or invoices relating to that work, as it provides the clearest evidence of what was actually replaced.