17.9%
Rigid brake pipe
A rigid metal brake pipe is corroded, damaged, kinked, or leaking. These permanently fixed pipes carry pressurised brake fluid — any weakness is a serious safety concern.
MOT wording: Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease
KiaUsed-car reliability
How reliable is a used Kia?
At 7 years old, the average Kia fails its MOT less often than the average UK car.
MOT fail rate · 7-year-old cars
Kia15.5%
UK average16.6%
Fails less often than the average 7-year-old car (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)
Where to start
The lowest and highest fail rates in the Kia range
The Kia models whose MOT tests at 7 years old most and least often ended in a fail.
Lowest fail rates
- 1
Kia Venga11.8%fail rate - 2
Kia Stonic13.0%fail rate - 3
Kia Soul13.4%fail rate
Highest fail rates
- 1
Kia Carens22.4%fail rate - 2
Kia Ceed17.4%fail rate - 3
Kia Sportage16.1%fail rate
What actually goes wrong
What breaks on Kia cars
The most common MOT faults across the Kia range, in plain English. Models with more MOT tests count for more. The percentage is the share of MOT tests on Kia cars that recorded that defect.
17.8%
Tyre condition
A tyre is worn, cut, damaged or otherwise not fit for the road. Tyres are the only thing connecting the car to the road, so this is always worth taking seriously.
MOT wording: Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge
13.8%
Springs
A suspension spring is broken, cracked, corroded, or missing. This includes coil springs, leaf springs, and torsion bars. Springs support the car's weight — a broken one lowers one corner of the car and affects handling.
MOT wording: Coil spring corroded
12.8%
Brake linings and pads
Brake pads or linings are worn, contaminated, or missing. These are the friction materials that press against the disc or drum to slow the car. When too thin, stopping distances increase.
MOT wording: Brake pads wearing thin
Across all Kia models; models with more MOT tests count for more.
The whole range
Every Kia that ranks, in plain English
For each model, one number: the share of its MOT tests at 7 years old that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. Lower is better. The UK average (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%) is shown for reference. Only models with enough MOT data at 7 years old are ranked. The rest sit just below, unranked.
12 models
Kia Stinger
The lowest 7-year fail rate of any Kia here.
11.1%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Venga
Among the lower fail rates in the Kia range at 7 years old.
11.8%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Stonic
Among the lower fail rates in the Kia range at 7 years old.
13.0%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Soul
Among the lower fail rates in the Kia range at 7 years old.
13.4%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Rio
Among the lower fail rates in the Kia range at 7 years old.
13.6%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Niro
Among the lower fail rates in the Kia range at 7 years old.
13.6%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Picanto
Above the Kia average, but below the UK average.
15.5%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Optima
Above the Kia average, but below the UK average.
15.5%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Sorento
Above the Kia average, but below the UK average.
15.8%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Sportage
Above the Kia average, but below the UK average.
16.1%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Ceed
Above the Kia average, and at or above the UK average.
17.4%fail rate at 7 years old
Kia Carens
Above the Kia average, and at or above the UK average.
22.4%fail rate at 7 years old
Fail rates are the share of MOT tests on 7-year-old cars ending in a fail, retests included (DVSA MOT results, 2025). UK average across all makes at the same age: 16.6%. How we count fail rates
Not directly comparable with the figures at 7 years old
Shown unranked. These models don’t have enough MOT data at 7 years old yet. They’re either too new (few cars old enough) or too old (few still on the road). Each is shown at the age with the most tests, so the percentages aren’t directly comparable to the list above.
Too new to rankKia EV6
9.8%fail rate at 3 years old · 3,740 MOT tests
Too new to rankKia XCeed
10.0%fail rate at 3 years old · 9,642 MOT tests
Too new to rankKia ProCeed
11.2%fail rate at 3 years old · 1,963 MOT tests
Too old to rank
Kia Sedona
29.3%fail rate at 14 years old · 999 MOT tests
Too old to rank
Kia Cerato
35.5%fail rate at 19 years old · 321 MOT tests
Looking at one in particular?
Averages tell you the odds across the range. Enter a number plate to see that car’s own MOT history, its risk rating, and what’s likely to need attention.