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Kia Carens reliability by build year

Coverage 2006-20192 named generationsMPVPETROL / DIESEL
At a glance

Kia Carens built around 2018: more dangerous faults than average

Testers find a dangerous fault on Kia Carenses built around 2018 more often than on similar cars the same age. Look closely at the tyres on any car you view.

Check a Kia Carens by number plate

Key figure

8% of MOT tests on Kia Carenses built around 2018 found a fault the tester marked as dangerous, against 6% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Kia Carenses built around 2018 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Kia Carens's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Independent inspection

High priority

Have an independent specialist inspect the car before you commit.

Brake pads

High priority

Ask when the pads were last replaced and check the warning-light history.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Carens's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Carens RP (3rd gen)

RP (3rd gen) (2013-2019)

Poor
PETROLDIESEL

22.4% fail rate, built around 2018 (7 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

From 2,171 MOT tests at this ageView details →
F

FJ (2nd gen) (2006-2012)

Not enough tests to rate
PETROLDIESEL

36.1% fail rate, built around 2012 (13 years old)

Likely between 30.3% and 42.3%

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 27.7%)

From 244 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Pre

Older models (before 2005)

DIESEL

44.1% fail rate, built around 2004 (21 years old)

Likely between 32.2% and 56.7%

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 31.1%)

From 59 MOT tests at this ageLimited data

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Kia Carens.

See every build year for the Kia Carens

Side-by-side

Kia Carens generations compared

Each generation is shown at 7 years old if it has at least 100 MOT tests at that age. If not, or if its cars are too new to be 7, it's shown at another age. We try ages close to 7 first. Newer generations have fewer years of data.

GenerationRatingFail rate
RP (3rd gen) (2013-2019)
Poor
Poor22.4%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 2,171 MOT tests at this age
FJ (2nd gen) (2006-2012)
No ratingNot enough tests to rate
No ratingNot enough tests to rate36.1%likely between 30.3% and 42.3%built around 2012 (13 years old)from 244 MOT tests at this age
Older models (before 2005)
No rating
No rating44.1%likely between 32.2% and 56.7%built around 2004 (21 years old)from 59 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Carens, shown at the age printed under its fail rate. So rows can be different ages. Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail, retests included. A rating is given only when there are enough tests to place the fail rate in one rating band with 95% confidence.

By age

Kia Carens fail rate by age

This chart combines every Kia Carens ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
80220.4%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
2,17122.4%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
2,43523.3%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
2,54426.2%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
2,85926.5%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
2,72227.0%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
81629.7%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
24436.1%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
35533.2%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
86235.5%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
1,05334.0%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
77935.9%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
33639.0%
19 yearsbuilt around 2006
16942.6%
20 yearsbuilt around 2005
8843.2%
21 yearsbuilt around 2004
5944.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 21 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the Kia Carens stacks up

Three ways to compare the same cars, built around 2018 (7 years old). The fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests, and 1st has the lowest fail rate. Only models with at least 500 MOT tests at this age are ranked. How we count fail rates

Against other Kia models

12th of 12

The highest fail rate of the 12 Kia models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the highest third

Against other people carriers

22nd of 33

22nd lowest fail rate of 33 people carriers with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the middle third

Against the UK average

22.4%

The share of this model's MOT tests at this age that ended in a fail.

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 7-year-old Kia Carenses

These issues come from 7-year-old Kia Carenses, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    21.8%
    Advisory: 687Fail: 56 (8% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    16.1%
    Advisory: 379Fail: 84 (18% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    12.1%
    Advisory: 279Fail: 88 (24% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    11.6%
    Advisory: 352Fail: 9 (2% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, but not excessively

    5.4%
    Advisory: 133Fail: 22 (14% of the times it was found)

Based on 2,171 MOT tests on 7-year-old Kia Carenses, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 7-year-old Kia Carenses notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelEnough data
  1. Brakes + Tyres42%
  2. Other + Tyres20%
  3. Lighting + Tyres18%
  4. Brakes + Other15%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 680 MOT tests on Kia Carens cars built around 2018 (7 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

Not enough registration data to show this for the Kia Carens.

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Recall context

11 recalls in all

4 of the 11 Kia Carens recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 1 Critical
  • 3 more

Top concerns

  • Kia HECU fuse replacement
  • Brake lights may malfunction
  • Brake light may not operate

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other people carriers to compare

Other people carriers to compare

  1. 1

    Hyundai ix20

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1%
    Dangerous
    4.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.4%

    Lower fail rate: 12.5%, against 22.4% for the Kia Carens, both built around 2018.

    3,239 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Toyota Verso

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    16.4%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1%
    Dangerous
    4%
    Still registered at 10 years
    90%

    Lower fail rate: 16.4%, against 22.4% for the Kia Carens, both built around 2018.

    1,716 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Mercedes-Benz B-Class

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    15.4%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    2.1%
    Dangerous
    5.5%

    Lower fail rate: 15.4%, against 22.4% for the Kia Carens, both built around 2018.

    6 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    5,267 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Volkswagen Sharan

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    15%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.9%
    Dangerous
    5.9%
    Still registered at 10 years
    89.2%

    Lower fail rate: 15.0%, against 22.4% for the Kia Carens, both built around 2018.

    6 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    4,091 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2018 (7 years old), the Kia Carens across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably more often than typical for this age. It has the highest fail rate of the 12 Kia models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 2,171 7-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Kia Carens ever sold: 18,294 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 2,171 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.