2009 Ford Kuga 2.0L Diesel · LT09 TWJ

This 2009 Ford Kuga failed its most recent April 2026 MOT due to an excessively worn offside rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, with a recurring unresolved windscreen chip advisory dating back to at least 2025. The maintenance trend for core mechanical components is worsening: anti-roll bar linkage wear has progressed from a minor dust cover ingress fault flagged in April 2024, to slight play in the offside rear unit in April 2025, to a full failed excessive wear condition in April 2026, indicating deferred maintenance of suspension components over time. The recorded mileage of 101,944 miles as of April 2026 equates to roughly 6,000 miles per year, well below the UK average of 8,000 to 10,000 miles annually for a 17-year-old vehicle. There are no unexplained gaps or sudden spikes in the odometer log between April 2024 and April 2026, with consistent increments of 11,495 miles and 12,438 miles across the two annual test intervals, confirming the mileage reading is likely genuine. The low annual usage may reflect either regular short journeys or extended periods of standing still, both of which can accelerate perish of rubber suspension and tyre components, which aligns with the recurring faults identified across the test history. A buyer must prioritise an in-person inspection of the offside rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joint, the component that caused the latest MOT failure. Excessive wear in this part poses a direct risk of sudden suspension failure and loss of vehicle control, so a qualified mechanic should check for play in the joint, corrosion of the mounting arms, and wear in the associated rubber mounting bushes, as anti-roll bar wear often affects multiple linkages on vehicles of this age. The long-standing windscreen damage, noted as an advisory since at least April 2025, should also be assessed for spreading, as an unaddressed chip can crack across the entire pane and require full replacement at a cost of several hundred pounds. The uneven inner and outer edge wear noted on the offside front tyre in April 2025, combined with the earlier front anti-roll bar dust cover failure, points to possible incorrect tyre pressures or worn front suspension components causing uneven tyre degradation. The buyer should check all four tyres for tread depth, sidewall damage, and signs of uneven wear, and verify that tyre pressures are set to the manufacturer’s specified level. Minor items including the inoperative offside registration plate lamp and worn windscreen wipers can be resolved cheaply but should be noted as small additional costs on top of any required suspension repairs.