MOT performance
Kia MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 1,822,129 MOT tests of Kia cars in 2023–2024, 73.8% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Kias failed 9% more often than comparable cars. Of the 12 Kia models with enough tests, the Kia Stonic failed least often relative to comparable cars.
1,822,129 MOT tests on 947,399 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 73.8% | ±0.1 pts (95%), n = 1,822,129 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.09× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 8.3% | n = 1,822,129 |
| Average age at test | 7.7 years | n = 1,822,129 |
Kia models
Every Kia model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage | 531,226 | 76.8% | 1.03× |
| Kia Picanto | 364,285 | 71.1% | 1.19× |
| Kia Ceed | 276,701 | 69.3% | 1.14× |
| Kia Rio | 197,177 | 69.6% | 1.10× |
| Kia Niro | 115,269 | 87.6% | 0.97× |
| Kia Venga | 95,042 | 72.9% | 1.11× |
| Kia Sorento | 72,810 | 69.6% | 1.05× |
| Kia Soul | 48,662 | 71.1% | 1.04× |
| Kia Stonic | 47,147 | 88.4% | 0.88× |
| Kia Carens | 30,774 | 64.0% | 1.23× |
| Kia Optima | 22,842 | 79.3% | 0.93× |
| Kia Sedona | 11,371 | 54.5% | 1.15× |
Where Kias fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 8.3% | Same |
| Brakes | 8.2% | +60% |
| Tyres | 6.4% | +7% |
| Suspension | 6.1% | -7% |
| Driver's view of the road | 5.3% | +30% |
| Steering | 2.8% | +109% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.8% | -15% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 1.8% | -21% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.7% | +1% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.2% | -9% |
| Road wheels | 0.2% | -23% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | -11% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 2.87% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 2.69% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brakes | 2.39% |
| Position lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.21% |
| Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements | Brakes | 1.98% |
| Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play | Steering | 1.97% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 1.46% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 1.31% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 1.29% |
| Stop lamp: not working | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.26% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 335,127 | 85.9% | +9% |
| 5-6 | 340,699 | 82.6% | -1% |
| 7-8 | 309,955 | 76.7% | Same |
| 9-10 | 260,006 | 66.9% | +10% |
| 11-12 | 200,062 | 58.7% | +17% |
| 13-15 | 178,205 | 54.0% | +17% |
| 16+ | 66,855 | 50.4% | +19% |
MOT failures where Kia stands out
Individual failure items that Kias record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Kia MOT failure patterns.
- Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements · 2.84× comparable cars
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play · 2.53× comparable cars
- Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side · 3.30× comparable cars
- Service brake performance: excessively binding · 1.85× comparable cars
Check a specific Kia
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.