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Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost 120hp 2WD ST Line common faults.

2016–2019, SUV, petrol, 120 HP.

The fault list covers: BNMA engine, IB6, MMT6 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

2 fault write-ups. Both are important. 7 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

2 important faults

The gearbox itself is reliable, but the shift mechanism wears noticeably between 100,000 and 150,000 km. Shifting becomes stiff, and it is most obvious when cold: the lever does not want to find its place, or the gear only goes in with force.

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At high mileage the synchros on the first two gears wear out, and then the shift grates. The gearbox comes with a dual-mass flywheel, which is not the most durable part either.

between 100,000 and 150,000 km

What to check

  • Set off from cold: both first and second must engage without snagging
  • Stop and select reverse: it must not grate or need force
  • While rolling, change down into second: this is where worn synchros are audible
2 more steps in the write-up

The gearbox is light and compact and reliable, but the small oil quantity makes it sensitive to leaks: not much has to escape before the level becomes critical.

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Most complaints about synchro noise actually come from this, from the low oil level rather than from the synchro itself. Beyond that the input shaft bearing can wear out and reverse can fail. Every version comes with a dual-mass flywheel, which is not the most durable part.

What to check

  • Look at the gearbox housing from underneath: fresh oil means a leak, and here that is the main cause
  • Ask when the oil level was last checked and whether it has ever been topped up
  • While rolling, change down into second and third: grating means worn synchros
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost 120hp 2WD ST Line

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Official recall7 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 9 June 2026

26V374000VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLSVISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS9 June 2026 · NHTSA (USA)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Escape vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 16V617. The power-operated windows may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."

Risk: A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 22, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C29. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

26V011000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATEREQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER15 January 2026 · NHTSA (USA)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

21V155000TIRESTIRES10 March 2021 · NHTSA (USA)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150, 2018-2020 F-250, F-350, and 2019 Escape vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.

Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S10.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

18V104000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS12 February 2018 · NHTSA (USA)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with incorrect front brake hoses that may chafe against other components, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak.

Risk: A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake hoses, replacing any that are incorrect, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S04.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

17V803000AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW18 December 2017 · NHTSA (USA)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Escape vehicles. The side curtain air bags on these vehicles have a component that may detach during deployment of the inflatable curtain air bag.

Risk: If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S44.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

17V398000AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTERAIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER26 June 2017 · NHTSA (USA)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Ford Escape vehicles. The driver's knee airbag modules installed in these vehicles were produced without the inflator gas generant material, and, as a result, the air bags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: In the event of a crash, if the driver's knee air bag does not inflate as intended, the driver has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace driver's knee air bag, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C11.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

16V617000VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLSVISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS24 August 2016 · NHTSA (USA)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Ford Escape Titanium and SE vehicles manufactured October 5, 2015, to May 12, 2016. The settings for the closing-force of the power-operated windows may allow the windows to close on an object such as a body part and injure it before the windows auto-reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."

Risk: If a window closes on a body part, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will update the power window operating system software, free of charge. The recall began on September 6, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C12.

We could not check this: model year. The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

1 engines · 2 transmissions

BNMA · 1.5

88 kW (120 HP) · petrol

IB6 · 6-speed manual

manual · 6 speed

Torque limit285 Nm
MakerFord/Getrag

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it. More than one transmission is possible. The gear count does not tell them apart. The code is on the side of the transmission.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
ST Line
Body
SUV
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
manual
Engine size
1498 cc
Power
88 kW (120 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
2016–2019

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years
  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years
  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)
  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms