Known Faults Database

Ford Puma problems, reliability and years to avoid

If you are considering buying a used Ford Puma, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model, 1 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.

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Is the Ford Puma reliable?

The Ford Puma has 2 known faults in our database across 2 generations, 1 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (zetec S engines (1.25, 1.4, 1.6) are sensitive to incorrect oil (must be 5W-30)) and electrics (parasitic drain leading to 12V battery failure and inability to unlock or start the car). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.

That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.

Which Ford Puma years should you avoid?

No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.

Mk1, 1997 to 20021 high severity

1 known fault, the serious ones in the engine

Mk2, 2019 on

1 known fault, none rated high severity

Years and engines with a serious known fault

1995 to 2008, 1.25, 1.4, 1.6 Zetec S engines: zetec S engines (1.25, 1.4, 1.6) are sensitive to incorrect oil (must be 5W-30)

Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.

Generation 1 of 21 known fault

Ford Puma Mk1 (1997 to 2002) problems

Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial

Zetec S engines (1.25, 1.4, 1.6) are sensitive to incorrect oil (must be 5W-30). Using the wrong oil (e.g., 20W-50) leads to sticking valves, blocked oil passages, oil starvation, and cam wear, potentially causing severe engine damage.

Rough guide

£1000-2500+

Typical symptoms

High oil consumption
Smoky exhaust
Tappety noises or engine rattles
Reduced engine performance or misfires

Affected vehicles

Engines:: 1.25, 1.4, 1.6 Zetec S engines
Typical mileage:: Any mileage with incorrect oil miles

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Generation 2 of 21 known fault · 4 good notes

Ford Puma Mk2 (2019 on) problems

ElectricalMedium severity📝 Editorial

Parasitic drain leading to 12V battery failure and inability to unlock or start the car

Rough guide

£100-250

Typical symptoms

car completely dead
FordPass app alerts for deep sleep mode
keyless entry stops working

Affected vehicles

Engines:: 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV
Typical mileage:: 5000-20000 miles

🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →

What owners like about the Mk2

4 notes

December 2019A 2020 Ford Puma achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with strong protection for adult and child occupants.
The Ford Puma offers an excellent driving experience, providing an engaging and enjoyable ride.
The Ford Puma is surprisingly practical, offering good utility for its size and class.
The Ford Puma comes with a generous amount of standard equipment, enhancing its value proposition.

Sellers rarely admit these faults outright

We track 5 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Ford Puma advert and we check it in seconds.

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Ford Puma recalls

Recall work is done by the manufacturer, and GOV.UK says you will not usually have to pay for it. These are the 16 DVSA recalls for the Puma, newest first. They do not tell you whether this particular car has had the work: for that, put the registration into the free GOV.UK MOT history check, which shows a recall status where the manufacturer shares it, or ask a franchised dealer to check the VIN.

🏛️ May 2026Cars built November 2019 to April 2024

Multi Vehicle Line (MVL): Telecommunications Control Module (TCU) loss of Function Software Update

Affected vehicles may experience a loss of emergency call system (eCall) functionality which impacts both automatic and manual eCall events.

Put right by: Update the Telematics Control Unit software to the latest level.

DVSA R/2026/1815,293 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ April 2026Cars built April 2025 to September 2025

Puma -Certificate of Conformity (CoC) Update Tyre Mismatch

While monitoring vehicles in operation Ford has become aware that a number of Puma Gen-E vehicles may show a mismatch between the Tyre information on the Certificate of Conformity (COC) and Homologation documents and may not meet regulatory requirements.

Put right by: Document exchange

DVSA R/2026/1704,124 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ April 2026Cars built September 2025 to December 2025

Puma - Driveshaft Inspection

Affected vehicles may experience a right-hand sided front driveshaft failure resulting in a loss of drive.

Put right by: Inspect the right-hand side front driveshaft and replace if necessary.

DVSA R/2026/1653,388 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ February 2026Cars built May 2024 to June 2024

Puma - Instrument Panel Cluster Software Update

On affected vehicles the software repair for previous recall 24C18 may not have been delivered properly and vehicles may still have an intermittent Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) display issue.

Put right by: Update the IPC software and perform an additional verification process to ensure the configuration has been installed correctly.

DVSA R/2026/0646 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ February 2026Cars built April 2023 to July 2023

Puma Restraint Control Module Software

On affected vehicles the software repair for previous recall 25SF3 may not have been delivered properly and may still have incorrect Restraint Control Module (RCM) software. If the incorrect software is installed the system will not display any warnings and the restraints system performance could be degraded in an accident increasing the risk of injury.

Put right by: Update the RCM and perform an additional verification process to ensure the configuration has been installed correctly.

DVSA R/2026/039598 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ September 2025Cars built August 2020 to June 2022

CrossCar: Sync3 Rear-View Camera Software Update

On affected vehicles a software problem may result in issues with the rear-view camera that reduce the driver's view or with it remaining on after a reversing event.

Put right by: Update the vehicle software to the latest level.

DVSA R/2025/3594 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ June 2025Cars built April 2024 to September 2024

Puma mHEV - Hybrid system fault

Affected vehicles may experience a hybrid system fault (no torque assistance or regeneration and loss of Stop Start). This may be observed as a hybrid gauge not working poor performance or reduced fuel economy.

Put right by: Update the Battery Energy Control Module software.

DVSA R/2025/19620,558 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ March 2025Cars built November 2021 to September 2024

Puma Fiesta Courier - Fuel line chafing

Affected vehicles may experience chafing between the fuel line support shield and the fuel line which could result in damage to the fuel line.

Put right by: Replace the fuel line support shield (bracket). Inspect the fuel lines and rework if necessary.

DVSA R/2025/084109,822 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ July 2024Cars built January 2024 to July 2024

Puma - Instrument panel cluster (IPC) software update -- Compliance recall

Puma vehicles that might have an intermittent instrument panel cluster display issue due to an incorrect software configuration. If this happens the cluster will turn black when turning the ignition on or while driving. The Ford dealer will update the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC).

Put right by: Update the instrument panel cluster (IPC) software to the latest level.

DVSA R/2024/278155 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ September 2023Cars built April 2023 to August 2023

Incorrectly configured Restraint Control Module (RCM) which can cause the restraint system not to work as intended. In the event of an incorrect crash sensor being installed throughout the life of the vehicle while in service the current software will not detect it and will not display any warnings in the dash so in the event of an accident the restraints system performance could potentially be degraded therefore increasing the risk of an injury.

Incorrectly configured Restraint Control Module (RCM) which can cause the restraint system not to work as intended. In the event of an incorrect crash sensor being installed throughout the life of the vehicle while in service the current software will not detect it and will not display any warnings in the dash so in the event of an accident the restraints system performance could potentially be degraded therefore increasing the risk of an injury.

Put right by: Dealers will perform a configuration update in order to restore functionality.

DVSA R/2023/26413,487 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ July 2022Cars built February 2022 to July 2022

THE eCALL FEATURE WILL STOP FUNCTIONING DUE TO A MALFUNCTION

It may be possible that the eCall feature will stop functioning due to a malfunction.

Put right by: The Telecommunication Module will need to be replaced

DVSA R/2022/2399,388 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ April 2022Cars built June 2020 to May 2022

The right-hand engine oil seperator may have been damaged prior to engine assembly.

Certain vehicles could have an engine oil separator that may have been damaged prior to engine assembly.

Put right by: Inspect the engine oil separator and if found to be damaged and/or leaking a replacement engine oil separator must be installed

DVSA R/2022/1719,818 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ May 2021Cars built July 2019 to February 2021

Vehicles may have an issue with the current software that contols the funtionality of the ecall system

Vehicles may have an issue with the current software that controls the functionality of the eCall system.

Put right by: Carry out a software update.

DVSA R/2021/177100 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ January 2021Cars built September 2020 to October 2020

The mhev battery connections may become loose

There is a potential that the vehicle's MHEV battery connections may become loose.

Put right by: Inspect and check torque on 48 volt battery cable connections

DVSA R/2021/008151 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ August 2020Cars built November 2019 to July 2020

The hybrid battery connections may not have been torqued to ford specification

It is possible that the hybrid battery connections may not have been torqued to Ford specification.

Put right by: The MHEV battery connections need to be checked and torqued to the correct value

DVSA R/2020/248428 vehicles affected in the UK

🏛️ February 2020Cars built November 2019 to January 2020

Airbag retention springs may not lock airbag to steering wheel

The drivers airbag retention springs maybe outside of manufacturing specification and may not lock the module to the steering wheel

Put right by: Install a replacement airbag retention spring.

DVSA R/2020/04524,249 vehicles affected in the UK

Recall data published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence v3.0. A recall listed here may not apply to every car of this model: the build dates and the registration check are what decide it.

Ford Puma timing chain, and service intervals

A timing chain has no change interval, which is not the same as lasting for ever. Listen for it on a used Puma, and check the oil has been changed on time. These are the figures UK specialists work to.

1.0 EcoBoost timing chainChain

1.0 ECOBOOST HYBRID

No fixed replacement interval

Every Puma 1.0 EcoBoost (2019 on), mild hybrid or not, has the chain version of the engine. Ford's specification sheets list a timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner for this version of the 1.0 EcoBoost, so there is no cambelt to replace. Every 48V mild hybrid 1.0 EcoBoost has the chain engine. The earlier engine with the wet belt looks similar and carries the same badge, so on a car near the changeover check the engine code rather than the badge.

Timing chainChain

1.5 ECOBOOST

No fixed replacement interval

The three-cylinder 1.5 EcoBoost is in the Mk3 Kuga (from 2020) and the Puma ST (200PS, from 2020). Ford's specification sheets list a timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner, so there is no cambelt to replace. This is not the earlier four-cylinder 1.5 EcoBoost (to 2018), which has a conventional dry belt. Some sources report that engines built from February 2019 drive the oil pump by a belt running in oil, which Ford's sheets don't mention, so ask for the service history to show the oil pump belt if the car is near 10 years old.

Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.

Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: September 2026

Ford Puma buying questions

Which Ford Puma years should I avoid?

No Ford Puma year is a write-off, but the Mk1 (1997 to 2002) carries the most serious faults: engine. The Mk2 (2019 on) has none rated high severity. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.

What should I check when viewing a used Ford Puma?

Ask the seller about the engine and electrics faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for high oil consumption and car completely dead. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Ford Puma advert →

Are there any recalls on the Ford Puma?

The DVSA lists 16 safety recalls for the Ford Puma issued between 2020 and 2026. The most recent, from May 2026, is "Multi Vehicle Line (MVL): Telecommunications Control Module (TCU) loss of Function Software Update". Recall work is done by the manufacturer, and GOV.UK says you will not usually have to pay for it. This list is by model, so it cannot tell you whether one particular car has had the work: the free GOV.UK MOT history check shows a recall status from the registration where the manufacturer shares it, and a franchised dealer can check the VIN.

What is the real MPG of a Ford Puma?

Owners report 48.5 mpg on average across the Ford Puma engines with data, about 93% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 73 owner submissions. Ford Puma Real MPG by engine →

Looking at a Ford Puma right now? Check the advert before you go and see it.

Where this Ford Puma fault data comes from

If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Ford Puma owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.

CarAdCheck is not affiliated with Honest John or Volkswagen Financial Services. What happened to Honest John, and where each feature lives now.

Before you go and see it

Knowing what a Ford Puma goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.

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