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Photo: Harvey Bold, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Ford Kuga III: the buying guide

SUV · since 2019 · Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

✓ 27 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Buy with care
Reliability
not rated
No documented fault
Estimated monthly cost
€491/month
Indicative prices
€13,400 – €30,500

3 known faults

Photo: Harvey Bold, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Ford Kuga III, front three-quarter view

Photo: Harvey Bold, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Buy with care

Compact 5-star Euro NCAP SUV (2019), but subject to several serious recalls for fire risk: high-voltage battery of the plug-in hybrid, 2.5 hybrid engine block and 1.5 EcoBoost injectors. Buy only after verifying, by serial number, that all campaigns have been completed.

Reliability
not rated
Indicative prices
€13,400 – €30,500
Monthly cost
€491
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: 2.5 FHEV 190.

  • 1.5 EcoBoost 120

    Petrol · Manual · 120 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Entry-level petrol (240 Nm) with manual gearbox. Affected by the 1.5 EcoBoost injector recalls.

  • 1.5 EcoBoost 150

    Petrol · Manual · 150 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Same 1.5 EcoBoost with 150 hp, manual gearbox. Same injector recalls.

  • 1.5 EcoBlue 120

    Diesel · Manual · 120 hp · Crit'Air 2

    Entry-level diesel, with 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic gearbox.

  • 2.0 EcoBlue 150 mHEV

    Diesel · Manual · 150 hp · Crit'Air 2

    2.0 EcoBlue with 48 V mild hybrid (energy recovery under braking), manual gearbox.

  • 2.0 EcoBlue 190 AWD

    Diesel · Automatic · 190 hp · Crit'Air 2

    Most powerful diesel: 400 Nm, 8-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.

  • 2.5 FHEV 190

    ✓ Recommended

    Hybrid · Automatic · 190 hp · 5.5 L/100 km · 125 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1

    Non-plug-in hybrid (2.5 petrol and 1.1 kWh battery) with e-CVT transmission. Judged by Caroom to be the most economical to buy and run, provided the engine block campaign has been carried out.

  • 2.5 PHEV 225

    Hybrid · Automatic · 225 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Plug-in hybrid: 2.5 petrol and electric motor, e-CVT transmission, 14.4 kWh battery for around 50 km of announced WLTP range. The version most affected by the recalls (high-voltage battery, engine block).

Market prices

€13,400 – €30,500

Indicative range: 2019 to 2026, yearly medians of 1454 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

PHEV high-voltage battery: overheating and fire risk

Manufacturer recall

As early as 2020, Ford recalled Kuga PHEVs produced in Valencia and asked owners to stop charging them: battery cells could overheat (contamination by particles) with a risk of fire. Batteries from production between 1 July 2019 and 15 July 2020 were replaced. New campaigns (including 25SC4) followed: an update to the battery control software and replacement of the battery if an anomaly is detected.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
2.5 PHEV 225
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

2.5 hybrid engine block rupture: oil leak and fire risk

Manufacturer recall

Two campaigns target the 2.5 engine of the hybrids. Campaign 22S47 (PHEVs built between August 2019 and June 2022): a connecting rod can pierce the engine block, and oil collects in the lower undertray near the catalytic converter. Campaign 23S27 (HEVs and PHEVs built between July 2019 and April 2023): if the combustion engine is damaged, the sump or block can rupture if the electric motor is not disconnected. The remedy includes a modification of the engine compartment.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
2.5 FHEV 190, 2.5 PHEV 225
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Cracked 1.5 EcoBoost injectors: fuel leak and fire risk

Manufacturer recall

An injector can crack and leak fuel onto the hot engine. Recall 22S73 (2022) adds a software update that detects a drop in fuel pressure, reduces power and lights a warning, along with a drain pipe; 24S16 followed, then in 2026 a broader campaign covering 1.5 EcoBoost vehicles built between November 2018 and May 2024.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
1.5 EcoBoost 120, 1.5 EcoBoost 150
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Ford Kuga”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€135
Insurance€86
Maintenance€60
Depreciation€210
Total per month€491

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€135

2.5 FHEV 190 version: combined consumption of 5.5 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

5.5 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €135

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€86

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€60

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€210

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Have a Ford dealership check, using the serial number, that all recall campaigns are closed (PHEV battery, 2.5 hybrid engine block, 1.5 EcoBoost injectors) and ask for the repair orders.
  • PHEV: check that the high-voltage battery has been inspected or replaced and that no 'do not charge' instruction is in force.
  • 2.5 hybrids: check for oil leaks under the engine and the oil level.
  • 1.5 EcoBoost: check there is no smell of petrol in the engine bay and no engine warning light on the dashboard.
  • Carry out a fault code read before purchase.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Have all the recall campaigns been carried out at Ford? Do you have the documents?
  • On a PHEV: has the high-voltage battery been replaced or updated, and on what date?
  • Has the car ever lost power with a warning light on, or shown an oil or fuel leak?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Peugeot 3008

II · 2016–2023

Buy with care
Price
€7,980 – €17,294
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Renault Austral

I · since 2022

Buy with care
Price
€25,300 – €31,500
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Hybrid

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nissan Qashqai

II · 2014–2021

Buy with care
Price
€9,000 – €18,490
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel

Photo: AIMHO'S REBELLION 8490s, CC BY-SA 4.0

Citroën C5 Aircross

I · 2018–2025

Extra caution
Price
€11,700 – €23,900
Reliability
2/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0

Toyota C-HR

I · 2016–2023

Excellent choice
Price
€15,600 – €23,900
Reliability
4.5/5
Fuel types
Hybrid, Petrol

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Ford Kuga III (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ford Kuga III reliable?

It is average: What Car? ranks it 19th out of 24 large SUVs in its reliability survey (score of 89.6%). More importantly, it has been subject to serious recalls for fire risk (PHEV battery, 2.5 hybrid engine block, 1.5 EcoBoost injectors): check against the serial number that the campaigns have been carried out.

Should I avoid the plug-in hybrid Kuga?

Not necessarily, but it is the highest-risk version: a 2020 recall with an instruction to stop charging and replacement of the batteries from the first production year, then new campaigns on the high-voltage battery. Car Verif advises buying only with a battery and recall campaigns that are documented.

What is the boot capacity of the Kuga III?

According to Fiches-auto, 475 L with the rear seat in the rear position and up to 645 L with the sliding rear seat moved forward (15 cm); 1,530 L with the rear seat folded.

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