2013 Ford Kuga 2.0L Diesel · YP13 UPY

The 2013 Ford Kuga most recently presented for DVSA testing on 20 September 2025 and was issued a pass certificate, although the examiner recorded an advisory noting play in the steering rack inner joint. Looking back through the recorded history, this same steering rack inner joint concern was first flagged as an advisory back in June 2020 and again in June 2021, meaning the wear has been slowly progressing over at least five MOT cycles without escalating to a failure. The other historical advisories relate to front tyres wearing on the inner edges (recorded in June 2020 and again in June 2022, when both nearside and offside front tyres were approaching the legal limit), and rear brake pads noted as wearing thin in June 2021. Apart from a single major failure in June 2019 for an ineffective windscreen wiper, which is a relatively trivial rectification, the underlying trend across the seven tests shown is one of stable but ageing condition, with wear items being addressed as they appear rather than any sudden deterioration or recurring structural or braking system failures. In terms of mileage context, the Kuga has covered 115,152 miles over roughly thirteen years, which equates to an annual average of approximately 8,858 miles. This figure sits broadly in line with typical UK private vehicle usage for a car of this age, suggesting neither extended periods of standing nor particularly arduous high-mileage driving. The gap between the June 2019 tests and subsequent annual entries indicates reasonably consistent use, and there are no obvious prolonged lay-ups that would raise immediate concerns regarding dormant corrosion, seized calipers, or battery degradation from inactivity. That said, at this overall mileage, wear-related servicing of major mechanical components such as the clutch, dual-clutch or PowerShift transmission fluid, drive belts, water pump, and suspension bushes should be assumed to have been carried out at some point and is well worth verifying through the service book. Given the recurring advisory relating to play in the steering rack inner joint, this is the single most important mechanical item to examine closely. On a test drive, listen for any knocking or clonking from the front suspension, particularly when traversing speed bumps or pressing and releasing the brake over uneven surfaces, and feel for any vagueness, delay, or slack in the steering response, especially around the straight-ahead position. The front tyres previously wearing on the inner edges suggests the geometry may be out of alignment, or that worn suspension components such as wishbone bushes, drop links, or track rod ends are allowing the toe angle to drift; an uneven scrub pattern on the inner shoulders of the current tyres would confirm this. The steering rack itself is an expensive assembly on a Kuga, so if free play is now clearly perceptible at the wheel rather than merely detectable by the examiner, budgeting for replacement should be considered. The 2021 advisory regarding rear brake pads wearing thin also warrants confirmation that the pads, discs, and caliper slide pins have since been inspected or renewed, with a road check for any binding, pulling, or grinding noise under light braking. Beyond the recorded advisories, a buyer should perform the usual physical inspections appropriate to a thirteen-year-old Kuga with this mileage. Check all four tyre sidewalls for perishing or cracking from age, even if the tread depth appears adequate, as rubber degrades over time regardless of wear. Examine the front and rear brake discs for obvious lipping, scoring, or surface corrosion, and verify that the handbrake holds the vehicle firmly on an incline, as rear calipers can seize on vehicles that see a mix of urban and standing use. Lift the bonnet to check the 12-volt battery for any signs of swelling, leakage, or age-stamped date codes, and confirm that coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid have been refreshed in line with calendar intervals rather than just mileage. Finally, inspect the underside for any fluid weeping from the power steering rack, engine sump, or transmission, and listen for any timing chain rattle on cold start, as the 1.6 EcoBoost engines commonly fitted to this model are known to suffer chain stretch at higher mileages. A thorough test drive covering town speeds, dual carriageway cruising, and a section of uneven B-road should be undertaken to confirm that no warning lights illuminate, that the clutch or automated gearbox operates smoothly, and that the four-wheel-drive system, if fitted, engages without undue noise or delay.