The picture
Puma: a below-average pass rate worth digging into
Across 3,288 MOT tests, the Puma returns 67.6% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is the strength or continuity of the load bearing. The strength or continuity of the load bearing and a split CV-joint boot round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 78,341, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
- 01
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
490 occurrences · 14.9% of tests
- 02
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
234 occurrences · 7.1% of tests
- 03
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
194 occurrences · 5.9% of tests
- 04
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
155 occurrences · 4.7% of tests
- 05
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
134 occurrences · 4.1% of tests
- 06
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
112 occurrences · 3.4% of tests
- 07
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced
102 occurrences · 3.1% of tests
- 08
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
96 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
- 09
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
88 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
- 10
A stub axle swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn
80 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£110–£350
If every one of this Puma's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Buying or keeping a Puma?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Puma and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.