13-02-2016:
Complaint of dual mass flywheel of 10,000 mile 6 month old Kuga releasing its damping medium onto the centre plate friction material resulting in the assembly slipping. Ford dealer refuses to fix FoC, blaming driver error.
11-05-2016:
Intermitent problems reported with gear changes into second gear from either first or third on 5700 mile 2015 Kuga 2.0 TDCi 150 bought 10 days previously. Sometimes second engages properly, on other occasions there is a "graunching" noise until the lever is pulled down further, or, the gear lever starts to judder until it is pulled further.
04-09-2016:
Report of front screens cracking across the screen on three consecutive Ford Kugas (Mk I and current Mk II). No previous reports. This can happen if the edge of the glass sits proud and unprotected. A stone hitting that edge can set up a stress crack that eventually spreads across the screen.
25-09-2016:
Report of all windows of a six month old Ford Kuga opening on a very wet and very stormy night and the car suffering severe rainwater ingress. May have been due to rainwater getting into the car's locking and windows ECU. Might be that the owner sat on the key, accidentally activating the global window opening function.
22-03-2017:
Report of "ongoing car engine problems" with 2015 Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi 2WD. Owner keeps getting "engine service now" message and the car goes into "limp" mode with half power. Now happening on every journey. August/September 2016 Ford had the car for around 3 weeks. Within 3 days of me getting the car back the same problem reoccurred. Feb/March 2017 owner has called out the AA via Ford 4 times for the same fault. Ford in Hemel Hempsted had the car for 3 days in Feb and again for 1 week in March. Within 24 hours of getting the car back both times the fault has reoccurred. Suspect EGR or DPF regen system.
25-04-2017:
Report of persistent hesitation from drivetrain of July 2016 Ford Kuga Titanium 2.0 TDCi AWD auto. Almost immediately owner started to notice hesitation when accelerating from low speeds. This happens on an intermittent basis, though some days not at all.
14-07-2017:
Report of clutch failure on new Ford Kuga TDCi 2WD after just 1,800 miles. Brake warning light came on because brake/clutch reservoir had lost all its fluid. This had leaked out of a failed clutch slave cylinder into the bell housing and destroyed the clutch. Fixed under warranty.
30-09-2017:
Report of 2015 Ford Kuga 2.0TDCI Powershift engine failing to shut down on the on/off button. Owner took it to the Ford dealer who told him to keep the car in drive and when the engine then cut out he removed the battery terminals, which worked. This seemed to reboot the system, but all information displays and radio settings had to be re-established. May/may not have been due to a raised sump oil level due to interrupted DPF active regenerations.
07-11-2017:
Report of valet mode setting of "Ford Sync" causing problems on May 2017 Ford Kuga 2.0 180PS Titanium X AWD. Owner if finding that it is not always possible to undo the valet setting. The dashboard screen then goes blank and the system needs to be re-booted in order to use it. Not very convenient. The car has been returned to the Ford main dealer and the system software has been updated but it did not cure the faulty. Ford then agreed to replace the "APIM module". However, the valet mode problem has apparently now now been replicated on other Ford Kuga models which has resulted in Ford not replacing the APIM module.
09-02-2018:
Report of track rod arm of 2014/64 Ford Kuga snapping clean in two while being driven down a side street doing 15mph. No potholes, no kerbs.
14-06-2018:
Massive hike in CO2 of 4-cylinder 1.5 litre belt cam Ecoboost in Ford Kuga to meer EU6d TEMP / WLTP. Lades to much higher firest year 'showroom tax' than before. Legally, this should be absorbed in the quoted price but some dealers are adding it afterwards. The new 3-cylinder 1.5 litre chain cam Ecoboost should be much lower CO2 when it finally arrives.
07-07-2018:
Complaint of thudding from fuel tank of 2017 Ford Kuga, thought to be the fuel tank float sensor for the fuel gauge come loose.
14-07-2018:
Complaint that EU6d TEMP / WLTP raised CO2 of Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost 120/150 2WD from £145 to £830. That means that the more realistic new test, combined with a requirement for lower NOx, raised CO2 from 101-110g/km to 171-190g/km. It is in fact 181g/km, so £830pa. The Kuga 1.5 Ecoboost 176 4WD 6-speed torque converter auto is 209g/km, which means a first year VED of £1,240.
20-07-2018:
Report of Ford Kuga 2.0TDI 4x4 manual burning out its clutch and DMF at 20,000 miles. Clutch, DMF and slave cylinder all destroyed. No previous clutch slip and car had been serviced 300 miles previously. Repairs quoted at £1,300 for parts alone, but labour costs swallowed by the dealer.
04-09-2018:
Report of clutch and dual mass flywheel failure on 2014 Ford Kuga 2.0TDCI at 16,000 miles. Dealer found no manufacturing fault and charged owner £1,287.25. See 14-7-2017.
23-12-2018:
Report of 2013/63 Ford Kuga 2.0TDCI randomly knocking on tick-over. Kbocking speeds up with engine speed and stops as revs increase. First time "fuel rod" needed to be replaced because the diesel was overheating and evaporating.
15-01-2019:
Report of seat belt buckle holder of folded single rear seat behind the driver's seat of a 2014/64 Ford Kuga Titanium getting jammed in the folding mechanism preventing the seat from being raised back up. Ford dealers quiting £300 - £550 to fix it.
04-03-2019:
Complaint from owner of 2017 Ford Kuga 2.0TDCI Powershift quoted £400 for the 3 year 38k mile transmission oil and filter change.
07-03-2019:
Report of owner of 2016 Ford Kuga 2.0TDCI 6-speed manual losing 4th gear. May be a linkage problem, may be an internal problems, may be a DMF/clutch problem.
19-05-2019:
Report of 60k mile 2013 Ford Kuga failing to start. been with dealer for 6 weeks. New starter motort fitted at cost of £460 but problem remains. Might be broken teeth on the flywheel starter ring. Or the problem might be with the DMF itself.
22-08-2019:
Report of series of intermittent but serious fault with 2015 Ford Kuga bought used in February 2018 now at 25,800 miles. Fault started in April 2019 manifests itself as if the brakes momentarily snapping on and off (sometimes quite mild but another very fierce) similar to ABS causing the ESP light to come on, ’hand brake assist not available’ warning and on occasions to a ‘complete transmission failure’ warning.
28-10-2019:
Report of engine failure of Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost four-cylinder at 30,000 miles due to localised overheating of cylinder 3 which has warped the head and corroded the engine. Owner initially told by Ford Customer Care the car would be covered under the EcoBoost replacement scheme and owner was asked to take it to a local Ford dealer who would rectify the issue. When the fault was identified owner was told that his 1.5 EcoBoost engine was not part of the recall. He is being asked to pay £7,500 for a new engine.
03-01-2020:
Report of 2018 Ford Kuga requiring replacement rear brake discs and pads due to corrosion and Ford dealer refusing to cover this under warranty. Case has gone to Ford Customer Relations.
28-01-2020:
Fault reported with external temperature gauge of ovember 2019 Ford Kuga. Eventually traced to a connection in the loom in the engine bay that was not properly sealed and so there was water ingress which cause the temperature gauge to fluctuate wildly. Re-sealing of the connection appears to have rectified the fault.
24-09-2021:
Report of engine failure of 2018 Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost four-cylinder petrol. Engine started using 200/300 millilitres of coolant every few months with no visible signs of a leak before failing. Engine has been replaced FOC under warranty but the dealer wants the owner to pay for replacement spark plugs and fluids (which have not been supplied with the replacement engine.
04-05-2022:
Report of two successive automatic gearbox failures on 2014 Kuga. First failure happened at 57,000 miles. Owner paid an independent garage over £6000 to replace the entire transmission. Gearbox failed 15 months later at 111,000 miles. Neither the garage nor Ford are willing to contribute towards the cost of the repair.
26-10-2022:
Report of repeated automatic gearbox failures on 2013 Kuga. Owner had the transmission replaced in 2021 at a cost of £4500. But 16 months later the gearbox failed again with the same fault. The garage is now asking for £4887 to replace the transmission again.
March 2012
All new Kuga unveiled
Engines available from launch in the UK in early 2013 include 140PS and 163PS versions of Ford’s popular 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine, with Ford Powershift automatic gearbox an option. Kuga will also offer the 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, already available in Ford Focus and C-MAX and impressing with its strong torque delivery and high fuel efficiency.
December 2012
New Ford Kuga available
Priced from £20,895 – over £1,000 less than previous model. Like its predecessor, the new Ford Kuga features a three-series line-up in the UK – Zetec, Titanium and Titanium X.
The all-new Kuga offers a choice of 150PS and 180PS 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engines, and 140PS and 163PS 2.0-litre TDCi Duratorq diesel engines. AWD diesel models are available with Ford’s PowerShift transmission; petrol models get a 6-speed torque converter automatic trtansmission. FWD diesel models now feature CO2emissions from just 139g/km.
February 2014
1.6 EcoBoost 182PS petrol engine available with Durashift 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission and four wheel drive, from £26,000.
March 2014
Kuga Titanium X Sport introduced
Ford’s Titanium X Sport series has joined the new Kuga range to offer the highest specified Ford SUV available, with luxury and technology features as standard. It gets 19-inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails, privacy glass and power fold mirrors. The trim adds a body styling kit including body colour front, side and rear skirts, spoiler, wheel arches and door claddings. Other extras include adds lower centre silver skid plate and rear diffuser.
Inside it adds a Sony DAB audio with satellite navigation, a rear view camera, Active Park Assist for semi-automated parallel parking. The new all-wheel-drive Kuga Titanium X Sport, priced at £28,345, inherits other standard equipment such as opening panorama roof, heated front Torino leather seats and 10-way powered driver’s seat.
October 2014
Ford unveils more poweful diesel Kuga
Superseding the Kuga’s 2.0 TDCi engine, a unit that has accounted for 95 per cent of Kuga sales in the UK in 2014 so far, the new 2.0-litre Euro 6 compliant diesel delivers 180PS and 400Nm, a 10 per cent power hike. Despite that, it emits 19g/km less CO2.
Upping the power of Ford’s most popular diesel Kuga has allowed the company to slot in a less powerful version of the 2.0-litre TDCi beneath, which generates 150PS and emits just 122g/km CO2, returning a claimed 60.1mpg.
September 2015
Ford Kuga for 2016 now offers Ford’s SYNC 2 advanced connectivity system for the first time, enabling drivers to operate phone, entertainment, climate and navigation systems using simple conversational language. SYNC 2 features an 8-inch colour touch screen in the centre console – increased from 5-inches – that can also help drivers when manoeuvring by displaying the live feed from the Rear View Camera system.
February 2016
Revised Ford Kuga announced
Updates to make driving simpler, safer, more enjoyable and more affordable include Ford’s new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system, innovative driver assistance technologies, an ergonomic and comfortable interior and a new 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.
The tailgate is restyled, while a new range of 17- 18- and 19-inch alloy wheel designs are available in variety of finishes including Luster Nickel. One new colour, the vibrant shade Copper Pulse, will be offered throughout the range. A power-operated retractable tow bar automatically stores itself out of sight below the rear bumper when not in use.
A new 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine is offered with front-wheel drive, targeting a fuel efficiency improvement for the new engine of about 5 per cent to 64.2mpg and 115g/km CO2 while producing the same power. Also available: a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine with 150PS in front-wheel drive and Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive versions that achieve from 60.1mpg and 122g/km CO2; and a 180PS Intelligent All Wheel Drive version that delivers from 54.3mpg and 135g/km CO2.
Ford’s 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine in 120PS or 150PS front-wheel drive form achieves 45.6mpg and 143g/km CO2 and a 182PS Intelligent All Wheel Drive version delivers from 38.2mpg and 171g/km CO2.
August 2016
Ford announces new Kuga ST-Line
New Kuga prices start from £20,845 and Kuga ST-Line prices from £25,845.
The ST-Line delivers includes upper grille finished in high-gloss Ebony Black, honeycomb design for the lower front grille in high-gloss Ebony Black with unique, matching sports mesh finish on the fog lamp bezels.
The new Kuga ST-Line offers the sportiest Kuga driving dynamics yet, with chassis enhancements including thicker anti-roll bars and a 10mm lower ride height for reduced body roll and sharper responses.
October 2016
Kuga Vignale now available
The Ford Kuga Vignale is offered in exclusive specifications including the unique Vignale pearlescent Milano Grigio exterior colour influenced by rose metallic tones. Further detailing includes dark gloss effect finishes for the front and rear skid plates, door appliques and boot trim. The signature Vignale hexagonal grille design features at the front.
Ford Kuga Vignale technologies include Ford’s Perpendicular Parking that helps drivers park hands free in spaces alongside other cars; an enhanced version of the Active City Stop collision avoidance system; and Hands-Free Liftgate for simplified access to the luggage compartment.
Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System adjusts the headlight beam angle and intensity to match the driving environment, including a Weather-Dependent Lighting mode that automatically adjusts headlights to help drivers spot roadside hazards in extreme heavy rain.