2021 Ford Puma MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 92.6% of Ford Pumas first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. Across 59,087 Puma first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, lamps and electrical equipment and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen).

This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford Pumas first used in 2021 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
92.6%
of 28,318 first tests; all cars first used in 2021: 87.2%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
59,087
first tests, 2023–2025; 28,318 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
66.3%
of 28,318 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
27,500
middle half: 20,000–37,500 miles; all cars first used in 2021: 32,000

How the 2021 Ford Puma MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Pumas first used in 2021 against all cars first used in 2021 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Puma figure was 5.4 points higher.

2021 PumaAll cars first used in 2021
80%90%100%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2021, test year 2021: 82.9%All cars first used in 2021, test year 2022: 89.9%All cars first used in 2021, test year 2023: 90.8%All cars first used in 2021, test year 2024: 87.6%All cars first used in 2021, test year 2025: 87.2%2021 Puma, test year 2023: 94.6%2021 Puma, test year 2024: 92.1%2021 Puma, test year 2025: 92.6%92.6%87.2%
View this chart as a table
Test year2021 PumaAll cars first used 2021Puma first tests
2021fewer than 500 tests82.9%—
2022fewer than 500 tests89.9%13
202394.6%90.8%1,547
202492.1%87.6%29,222
202592.6%87.2%28,318

Common 2021 Ford Puma MOT failures

Share of the 4,482 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Tyres39.4%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment24.4%
Visibility21.2%
Brakes11.7%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.4%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems3.5%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords16.1%722
Headlamp aim: too high12.3%552
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm8.8%395
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid8.8%393
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick8.1%363

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2021 Ford Puma before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Wipers and windscreen. Worth checking that the wipers clear the screen cleanly, that the washers work, and that there are no chips or cracks in the driver’s view.

Common 2021 Ford Puma MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2021 Pumas, as a share of all 59,087 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge9.3%5,524
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing5.8%3,441
Brake pads: wearing thin4.1%2,446
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened3.3%1,928
Nail in tyre2.4%1,402

Questions about the 2021 Ford Puma MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2021 Ford Puma?

In 2025, 92.6% of Pumas first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2021 Puma most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 39.4% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (24.4%) and visibility (wipers, washers and windscreen) (21.2%). The single most common item was “Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (16.1%).

How often does a 2021 Ford Puma fail its MOT?

In 2025, 7.4% of first tests on Pumas first used in 2021 did not pass first time: 5.5% failed, and a further 1.9% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 4,482 of 59,087 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2021 Ford Puma MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 9.3% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (5.8%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (4.1%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (3.3%) and “Nail in tyre” (2.4%).

Is a 2021 Ford Puma reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 94.6% in 2023 to 92.6% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2021

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2021 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT statistics · 2021 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT statistics · 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT statistics

How the 2021 Ford Puma MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2021 Puma” means a Ford Puma whose date of first use falls in 2021 (70, 21 and 71 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2021, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.