2022 Ford Kuga ST-Line Edition Ecoblue A 1.5L Diesel · YR22 URC

The defining mechanical note for this Kuga is the appearance of rear brake disc wear on its most recent examination, the only item flagged across the recorded DVSA history. Both the pass and the same-day fail on 29 December 2025 carry an advisory for the rear brake disc being worn, pitted or scored though not seriously weakened, and the test was failed on a straightforward washer fluid issue rather than any structural or braking defect. The earlier test in February 2025 returned a completely clean pass with no advisories, so within the short recorded history there is no established pattern of chronic deterioration, but the rear braking surface has now reached the advisory threshold and should be regarded as the next likely maintenance item. The steering column modification advisory is consistent with a Motability adaptation rather than a mechanical defect, and the low AdBlue advisory is a usage warning rather than a component failure. Recorded mileage of 21,627 miles across four years equates to roughly 5,400 miles annually, which is low for the vehicle's age. Three MOT tests appear in the DVSA history, all clustered within the final year of the period, which means the early years of the vehicle's life are not represented by annual roadworthiness checks; this is typical of a car first registered in 2022 but does mean there is no independent verification of condition during its first two to three years. Low annual mileage reduces wear on major drivetrain components but can accelerate certain age-related issues such as brake disc corrosion, dry brake caliper seizure from infrequent use, and deterioration of underbody protection, all of which align with the rear disc pitting now recorded. The annual jump from the 2025 test to the late-2025 test is modest, consistent with ordinary usage rather than any sudden increase in workload. For a prospective buyer, the immediate mechanical priority is the rear braking system. The advisory indicates surface pitting and scoring, which on a test drive typically presents as a faint judder or vibration through the brake pedal under firm application, particularly from higher speeds, and may be accompanied by a slightly grabby or uneven initial bite. The discs are not yet at the replacement threshold but will likely need attention at the next service, so inspection should include measuring remaining disc thickness against the Ford minimum and checking that the rear calipers slide freely, since caliper slide pins on lightly used vehicles can corrode and cause uneven pad wear against an already pitted surface. It is also worth verifying the handbrake holds on an incline without excessive travel, as lightly used rear calipers can stick off the disc. The remaining items recorded are minor and easily remedied. The washer fluid failure was a presentational defect rather than a mechanical one, but it is worth confirming that the washer system actually delivers fluid to the windscreen and that the headland washer jets, where fitted, also operate. The AdBlue low warning suggests the reservoir was nearly empty at the time of test; the Selective Catalytic Reduction system will refuse to restart once it has been run empty for a period, so the level and the quality of any recent AdBlue top-up should be verified. Finally, given the low mileage and the relatively limited MOT sample, a pre-purchase inspection on a lift is advisable to confirm the absence of underbody corrosion, check for any oil misting around the 1.5 EcoBlue engine and turbo, and to assess the condition of the front discs and pads which, while not yet flagged, often show uneven wear from infrequent use on vehicles of this profile.