2015 Ford Kuga 2.0L Diesel · LL65 XBO

This 2015 Ford Kuga presents a fundamentally clean roadworthiness profile across the recorded MOT history, with a singular failed test being the only blemish in an otherwise continuous run of passes. The most recent assessment on 26 July 2026 recorded no defects, continuing a sequence of four consecutive passes with clean sheets since the June 2023 retest. The only failure, recorded on the same date as the 2023 pass attempt, was a straightforward lighting issue: both headlamp aim readings were flagged as too low, classified as a present and rectified item rather than a dangerous or structural failure. The fact that the vehicle passed later the same day after adjustment suggests a minor alignment or loading concern rather than a chronic electrical or reflector fault, though it remains worth confirming that the headlamp levelling mechanism, where fitted, operates correctly and that subsequent tests have not indicated any drift back toward misaligned aim. With roughly 108,918 miles accumulated over an eleven-year life, the Kuga is averaging close to 9,900 miles per year, which sits comfortably within expected usage for a family SUV of this vintage. There are no extended testing gaps or sudden mileage jumps in the DVSA record; tests have been conducted at broadly regular intervals between 2020 and 2026, with annual mileages progressing in a measured fashion. This pattern points to a vehicle that has remained in consistent active service rather than one subjected to either prolonged standing or unusually heavy motorway mileage, meaning wear on suspension components, driveline mounts and exhaust fittings should be progressing at a typical rate for the recorded odometer. The advisory history is notably thin but does contain items relevant to a buyer inspecting the car today. The September 2021 test flagged an offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit with edge wear, alongside both rear brake pads reported as wearing thin. Tyre edge wear on a front axle commonly points toward misalignment, worn suspension bushes, or deteriorated strut top mountings, all of which are plausible wear items at this mileage on a Kuga. On the test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, and feel for any vague or wandering steering response, particularly under braking, which can indicate worn control arm bushes or drop links. The rear brake pad advisories, now some five years old, should be treated as superseded; verify the current pad and disc thickness directly, and check for any scoring on the disc surfaces or binding in the caliper slides that might suggest the rear brakes have been left to run low for an extended period. Because the recorded MOT history is otherwise absent of corrosion advisories, exhaust concerns, fluid leaks, or structural defects, the primary inspection focus should remain on the consumables and chassis components that would naturally be approaching renewal at this mileage. Inspect the tyres for even shoulder wear across both axles, check the alloy wheels for any kerbing damage that might suggest hard urban use, and confirm the steering is free of notchiness through the lock-to-lock range. The braking system should be evaluated with a firm pedal application from speed, watching for any pull to one side, vibration through the pedal, or delayed response that could indicate warped discs or a sticking hydraulic component. Finally, given the headlamp aim failure in 2023, confirm that both dipped beam patterns are symmetrical and projected at the correct height against a wall or garage door before purchase, and ensure that the headlamp lens surfaces are not heavily oxidised, as UV degradation of polycarbonate headlamp covers is common on Kugas of this age and can itself cause aim readings to fail.