Kia common problems and MOT failures

From 1,462,629 MOT tests in 2024, 20.7% of Kia vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.

Top Kia MOT failure reasons

#	Problem	Occurrences	% of failures
1	suspension pin, bush or joint worn	39,047	16.7%
2	tyre tread depth outside legal limits	33,129	14.2%
3	brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	25,377	10.9%
4	tyre seriously damaged	24,788	10.6%
5	wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	20,931	9.0%
6	steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play	20,334	8.7%
7	parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement	19,116	8.2%
8	windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	17,006	7.3%
9	lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	16,795	7.2%
10	suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	16,703	7.2%

What this means if you're buying a Kia

The single most common MOT failure for Kia is suspension pin, bush or joint worn, accounting for 17% of all failure items. Suspension repairs typically cost £150–£400 depending on the component.

These figures are from real MOT inspections. They show what testers actually find wrong with Kia vehicles. If you're viewing a used Kia, it's worth checking these areas specifically.

Kia models by MOT pass rate

Lowest pass rates first. These models have the most testable issues.

Model	Tests	Pass rate
Cerato	1,336	60.4%
Sedona	9,029	65.4%
Proceed	2,175	65.7%
Magentis	891	66.1%
Carens	23,588	71.4%
Unclassified	235	71.5%
Ceed	180,548	73.9%
Rio	154,264	74.7%
Soul	36,418	76.3%
Sorento	56,556	76.8%
Picanto	264,523	76.9%
Venga	65,772	77.2%
Ceed GT-Line Crdi Isg S-A	394	80.5%
Sportage	415,042	81%
Ceed GT-Line S Isg S-A	338	82%

Buying a specific Kia? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.

Check MOT history on GOV.UK