Used car guide

1999 Ford Puma: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1999 Ford Pumas, from 238 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 238 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

238MOT tests in 2025
63%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 65%)
3,100typical miles a year
2.4×the usual rate for flexible brake hoses

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1999 Ford Pumas than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Flexible brake hoses2.4× usual
    Ford Puma
    14.7% All 1999 cars
    6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 1% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.5× usual
    Ford Puma
    13.9% All 1999 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 1% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings2× usual
    Ford Puma
    16.8% All 1999 cars
    8.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.5%, against 4.3% of all 1999 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

By area

The share of 1999 Ford Puma MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    42% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    42% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    27% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    21% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Tyres
    20% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

Looking at a Ford Puma?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20232,293Tyres 10%
202235,276Tyres 20%
202128,284Tyres 23%
202025,893Tyres 28%
2019188Tyres 32%
2002390Suspension 48%
2001526Suspension 47%
2000512Suspension 37%
1998111Brakes 48%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1999 Ford Pumas registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score