2015 Ford Kuga 1.5L Petrol · CL04 SAV

The defining mechanical story of this 2015 Ford Kuga centres squarely on its braking system, which has drawn advisories or failures at every single MOT since 2021. The most recent test on 19 May 2026 recorded pitted and scored front and rear brake discs, thin front brake pads, and a corroded nearside rear coil spring, indicating that wear items are accumulating rather than being resolved between tests. Of greater concern are the two dangerous failures recorded in 2022 and 2023, both for brake pads worn below 1.5mm at the offside, alongside a major failure for a non-functional windscreen washer and a wiper that failed to clear the screen. The 2023 test passed with no advisories immediately after the dangerous failure, but the braking component concerns have reappeared consistently, which suggests a pattern of pad and disc wear that warrants close physical inspection rather than reliance on the pass certificate alone. Mileage accumulation across the recorded period is broadly consistent with typical usage for an eleven-year-old vehicle, averaging around 11,300 miles per year against the current odometer reading of 124,461. The MOT history spans five years with annual tests from 2021 onwards, showing no significant gaps in testing and no extended periods off the road, which means the wear pattern observed is representative of regular driving rather than the effects of long-term standing. The continuous pattern of brake-related advisories across consecutive tests is consistent with a vehicle used in mixed conditions, likely with frequent short or stop-start journeys that accelerate pad and disc wear. There is no evidence in the records of any suspension, exhaust, structural, or emissions defects, which means the braking system is the dominant mechanical theme rather than broader chassis deterioration. For a prospective buyer, the brake system should be the primary focus of any physical inspection and test drive. With the 2026 test showing both front and rear discs pitted and scored and front pads noted as thin, a buyer should expect that discs and pads will require replacement in the near term; on the road, symptoms to listen and feel for include brake pedal judder under firm application, grinding or squealing noises on light braking, and any pulling to one side which would indicate uneven pad wear or a binding caliper. The dangerous brake pad failure history from 2022 and 2023 is particularly relevant and should prompt confirmation that the caliper slide pins and guide mechanisms are free-moving, as sticking calipers are a common cause of uneven inner-edge pad wear on this generation of Kuga. The offside front in particular warrants a check, as this corner has recorded repeated defects including the headlamp washer failure and brake pad issues in 2022. The corroded nearside rear coil spring flagged in May 2026 is a component-specific concern worth examining on a raised inspection or ramp, looking for any loss of ride height on that corner, knocking noises over uneven surfaces, or visible flaking and pitting on the spring coils themselves. The 2022 test also recorded a nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit and on the edge, and the 2021 test showed all four tyres approaching the limit, which suggests that uneven or rapid tyre wear may be a recurring characteristic of this vehicle, possibly linked to suspension geometry or alignment. A test drive should therefore include a straight-line stability check at motorway speeds to detect any steering pull, plus a firm examination of the front-end response over speed humps and potholes, listening for clonking from the front suspension which could indicate worn bushes, droplinks, or top mounts. The windscreen damage noted in 2022 as a large lower crack should also be visually checked, as any subsequent spreading could bring it into the driver's direct line of sight and create a future test failure.