Used Ford Puma ST 2020-present reliability
Category: Sports SUV
The Ford Puma ST is a mixed bag. Early examples were sharp and aggressive, but later ones are a little disappointing. Shop carefully.
What should I look for in a used Ford Puma ST hatchback?
Being a sports SUV, the Puma ST has likely been driven in a, well, sporty fashion. There's nothing to suggest the Puma ST shouldn't be able to handle it, but you'll still want to look out for signs that its been used and abused – any strange behavior or noises that present themselves during a test drive. Check the wheels and bodywork for any damage as well.
The Puma ST comes with all the modern preventative safety aids you’d expect, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance and tyre-pressure monitoring. During safety testing, the Puma was awarded four out of five stars by Euro NCAP.
What are the most common problems with a used Ford Puma ST hatchback?
There aren't any recalls specifically related to the ST version, but there are some regarding the regular Puma that you should be aware of. If you're concerned about any of these issues, contact your local Ford dealer.
The driver’s airbag retention springs may be outside of manufacturing specification and may not lock the module to the steering wheel. Number of affected vehicles: 24,249.
Vehicles may have an issue with the current software that controls the functionality of the eCall system. Number of affected vehicles: 100.
Certain vehicles could have an engine oil separator that may have been damaged prior to engine assembly. Number of affected vehicles: 9818.
Is a used Ford Puma ST hatchback reliable?
The Puma ST wasn't included in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, but the regular Puma did. In that reliability survey, the Puma came a rather disappointing 32nd out of 38 cars in the small SUV class. However, it did so with an overall score of a respectable 91.4%.
Reliability rating 91.4%
The list of problems with the Ford Puma was rather diverse. For the 22% of cars that went wrong, faults with the battery, bodywork, brakes, engine, engine electrics, gearbox/clutch, interior trim/seats, non-engine electrics and sat-nav/infotainment were reported. In better news, 77% of cars remained driveable, and most got fixed within a week.
Ford as a brand ranked 24th out of 30 manufacturers in the same survey, with an overall score of 90.5%. This placed the brand above Audi, Jaguar, Nissan and Vauxhall but below BMW, Skoda and Toyota.
Used Ford Puma reliability: the owners' view
Our readers have praised the Ford Puma for its comfortable driving experience, hybrid technology, spacious boot and advanced infotainment system.
The vehicle's sportiness, fuel economy, and performance are also liked, though some express minor concerns about the lack of electric seats and too much road noise.
Many enjoy the responsive engine and handling, along with its reliability. However, a few note issues with battery problems and interior quality. The lack of certain features like a spare wheel or reversing camera is mentioned, but overall, the Puma is regarded as a versatile and practical choice, offering a blend of performance and efficiency.
Some readers express frustrations with specific features such as the automatic gearbox or visibility, but these seem to be minor compared to the overall positive feedback on driving experience, comfort, and technology.
If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
