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Before you buy a used Ford Kuga (II).

2012–2019 · Petrol / Diesel · 3 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Ford Kuga (II), real photo of this generation
M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

1.5 / 1.6 EcoBoost

Petrol

2.0 EcoBoost

Petrol

These also apply, described above: Block cracks on the 1.5 and 2.0 EcoBoost with coolant loss

1.5 / 2.0 TDCi

Diesel

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Ford Kuga (II)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
1.5 / 1.6 EcoBoostPetrol22 with conditions4
2.0 EcoBoostPetrolFewest documented14
1.5 / 2.0 TDCiDiesel22 with conditions4

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 2.0 EcoBoost (Petrol).

By fuel, all versions have the same number of documented faults.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Ford dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Ford airbag and seat-belt recalls (2001–2026)Airbags and seat belts

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Ford fuel-system recalls (2002–2026)Fuel system

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

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Ford electric and hybrid drive recalls (2010–2026)Electric powertrain

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry
Ford engine, transmission and software recalls (2000–2026)Powertrain and engine management

How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.

View full entry

On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 4 checked

Cooling

  • Look out for: Coolant loss with no visible leak, rough running on cold start, white smoke and, in serious cases, engine failure.

    Ask them to check: Watch the coolant level; if it drops with no external leak, run a pressure and combustion-gas test and check the spark plugs. Ask Ford by VIN about warranty actions.

  • Look out for: The temperature rises, coolant is lost and, in extreme cases, oil sprays under pressure from a crack in the head with a risk of fire in the engine bay.

    Ask them to check: Check with Ford by VIN that the recall was done; watch the coolant level and stop at the temperature warning.

DPF / EGR / turbo / flywheel

  • Look out for: Particulate filter warning and power loss; rough idle from a dirty EGR; vibration and knocks when starting or in low gears (dual-mass flywheel); smoke or hesitation from injectors at high mileage.

    Ask them to check: Read the DPF status and additive level, check the EGR and cooler, check the dual-mass flywheel at start-up and measure injector balance rates.

Exhaust and emissions

  • Look out for: Filter regenerations at excessive temperature, a damaged filter and particle emissions above the limit: the car can fail the emissions part of the roadworthiness test.

    Ask them to check: Ask Ford by VIN whether recall 24E06 is outstanding; check the filter and the regeneration history before the roadworthiness test.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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