Kia Niro
From 52,965 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Niros fare better: 2022 models pass at 91.7% vs 86.1% for 2016.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged and tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 898 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a tyre seriously damaged | 898 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 849 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 703 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 614 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 156 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 146 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 135 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 130 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 122 |
| wiper blade defective | 109 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 52.4% of failures are serious: 52.4% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 0% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £68.
Kia Niro on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 12,370 newly registered in the past year with 1,164 leaving, a net gain of 11,206. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 128,968 | 600 | +2,846 | -0 | +3,408 |
| 2025 Q2 | 125,534 | 626 | +2,804 | -0 | +3,026 |
| 2025 Q1 | 122,560 | 574 | +4,362 | -368 | +3,994 |
| 2024 Q4 | 118,643 | 497 | +2,358 | -796 | +1,562 |
| 2024 Q3 | 117,236 | 342 | +6,007 | -451 | +5,556 |
| 2024 Q2 | 111,706 | 316 | +5,223 | -0 | +5,638 |
| 2024 Q1 | 106,064 | 320 | +5,695 | -240 | +5,455 |
| 2023 Q4 | 100,560 | 369 | +3,004 | -1,005 | +1,999 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niro 2 Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 20,781 | 16% |
| Niro 3 Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 17,912 | 14% |
| Niro 2 Ev | Battery Electric | 14,976 | 12% |
| Niro 4 Ev | Battery Electric | 12,011 | 9% |
| Niro 4 Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 11,349 | 9% |
| Niro 2 S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 10,931 | 8% |
| Niro 3 Ev | Battery Electric | 10,854 | 8% |
| Niro 4 + Ev | Battery Electric | 8,057 | 6% |
| Niro 3 Phev S-A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 7,717 | 6% |
| Niro 2 Phev S-A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 4,913 | 4% |
| Niro 3 S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 3,600 | 3% |
| Niro 4 S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 1,656 | 1% |
| Niro First Edition Ev | Battery Electric | 1,103 | <1% |
| Niro First Edition S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 945 | <1% |
| Niro 4 Phev S-A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 726 | <1% |
| Niro Horizon Ev | Battery Electric | 479 | <1% |
| Niro Connect Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 428 | <1% |
| Niro 1 S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 162 | <1% |
| Niro Aspire Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 156 | <1% |
| Niro Evolve Hev S-A | Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 121 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 91.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2021 | 89.6% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2020 | 89.3% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2019 | 87.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
3 earlier years
| 2018 | 87.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2017 | 85.6% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2016 | 86.1% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a tyre seriously damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all Niros tested had between 21,847 and 50,481 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 33,840 median miles, the Niro has 0.035 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Kia models
| Kia Sportage | 81% |
| Kia Picanto | 76.9% |
| Kia Ceed | 73.9% |
| Kia Rio | 74.7% |
| Kia Venga | 77.2% |
Common questions
What is the Kia Niro MOT pass rate?
The Kia Niro has a 88.3% MOT pass rate based on 52,965 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Kia Niro?
The most common MOT failure on the Kia Niro is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 898 failures. Other common issues include a tyre cords visible or damaged.
How many Kia Niros are on UK roads?
There are 128,968 Kia Niros currently licensed on UK roads, with 600 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Kia Niro at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Kia Niro is 33,840 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 21,847 and 50,481 miles.
Buying a used Niro?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.