Ford Cougar
From 1,094 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 100 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 100 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 65 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 63 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 48 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 45 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 36 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 29 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 29 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 28 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 25 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 31% of Cougar failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 36.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £173.
Ford Cougar on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 136 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 136. At this rate, roughly 10.6 years until none remain. Now at 11.1% of its peak (13,027 in 2002 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 314 | 1,130 | +0 | -16 | -16 |
| 2025 Q2 | 337 | 1,123 | +0 | -8 | -8 |
| 2025 Q1 | 323 | 1,145 | +0 | -49 | -49 |
| 2024 Q4 | 324 | 1,193 | +0 | -63 | -63 |
| 2024 Q3 | 367 | 1,213 | +0 | -40 | -40 |
| 2024 Q2 | 385 | 1,235 | +0 | -9 | -9 |
| 2024 Q1 | 385 | 1,244 | +0 | -24 | -24 |
| 2023 Q4 | 402 | 1,251 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 75.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2000 | 68.3% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1999 | 67.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cougars tested had between 61,167 and 118,059 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 81,931 median miles, the Cougar has 0.037 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Ford models
| Ford Fiesta | 72.9% |
| Ford Focus | 74.7% |
| Ford Transit | 70.4% |
| Ford Kuga | 82.2% |
| Ford Mondeo | 73.8% |
Common questions
What is the Ford Cougar MOT pass rate?
The Ford Cougar has a 69.3% MOT pass rate based on 1,094 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford Cougar?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford Cougar is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 100 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Ford Cougars are on UK roads?
There are 314 Ford Cougars currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,130 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford Cougar at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford Cougar is 81,931 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 61,167 and 118,059 miles.
Buying a used Cougar?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 69.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £173 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 31% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.