2017 Ford Kuga 1.5L Petrol · EX17 LSD

Across five consecutive annual tests from 2022 to 2026, this Kuga has carried a clean pass sheet at the present odometer reading of 60,153 miles, with no advisories issued on the most recent examination on 23 June 2026 or in 2024 and 2023. That unbroken run of defect-free passes is the headline mechanical takeaway, though the broader history is not entirely unblemished. Two failures sit lower in the file: a 2022-06-29 test recorded an advisory for an offside front tyre worn on its edge alongside a major defect for a cracked or deteriorated offside rear fog lamp lens, and a much more serious episode in October 2021 saw the car fail twice within two days for service brake efficiency below requirements and a defective brake servo. The 2021 brake-related failure is a notable item in the record, but the absence of any repeat braking or servo defect at every test since suggests the underlying issue was rectified at source rather than masked, and the surrounding pattern remains one of reliable roadworthiness outcomes. Mileage accumulation over the vehicle's nine-year life works out to roughly 6,684 miles annually, which sits in a broadly typical bracket for a car of this age and is neither so low as to raise immediate concerns about prolonged standing nor so elevated that accelerated wear on consumables and suspension components would be expected. The test dates cluster tightly around the annual MOT cycle from 2021 onwards, so there are no multi-year gaps that would point to the vehicle being laid up off the road, and no large jumps between recorded readings that would suggest a discrepancy. At 60,153 miles, the brake discs, pads, tyres, clutch and general suspension wear items will have accumulated moderate but not extreme use, which is consistent with the relatively light advisory load in recent years. For a prospective buyer, the most defensible inspection priorities are the components that have actually surfaced in the MOT record. The 2025 advisory for an oil leak should prompt a careful under-bonnet examination and a check for fresh oil residue on the engine casing, sump plug, and any wetness around the rocker cover gasket or turbo oil feed on the 1.5 EcoBlue or 2.0 TDCi, depending on which engine this car carries. On a test drive, listen for any change in oil pressure warning behaviour from the instrument cluster on cold start and watch for blue smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration, which would indicate the leak is worsening internally. Tyres are worth close scrutiny as well: an offside front edge wear advisory in 2022 and a nearside front edge wear advisory in 2025 suggest a recurring geometry issue rather than a one-off tyre condition, so the wheel alignment, particularly camber and toe on the front axle, suspension arm condition, and any uneven shoulder wear across the tread face should all be examined. The October 2021 brake servo and efficiency failure also warrants physical verification even though the car has passed cleanly ever since. With the engine off, depress the brake pedal several times to confirm the servo is holding vacuum and providing firm resistance, then start the engine and confirm the pedal sinks slightly and recovers as expected; any hiss from the pedal area, a pedal that feels wooden, or the need for extra pedal travel to generate stopping effort would indicate the servo or master cylinder seal is degrading again. A road test on a quiet road should include a firm stop from around 30 mph to check for pulling to one side, which would point to a binding caliper or a flexible brake hose failing under pressure, and a series of low-speed stops should be monitored for any judder through the pedal suggesting warped front discs. Finally, a check underneath the car for surface corrosion on the rear subframe, suspension arms and brake pipes is sensible given the vehicle's age, along with confirmation that the rear fog lamp lens is intact and emitting a clear red beam, as the 2022 advisory item demonstrated how easily a cracked lens can be overlooked during routine use.