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Kia Ceed reliability by build year

Coverage 2007-present3 named generationsfamily hatchbackHatchbackDIESEL / PETROL / UNKNOWN / HYBRID ELECTRIC
At a glance

Kia Ceed built around 2018: more dangerous faults than average

Testers find a dangerous fault on Kia Ceeds 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 Ceed by number plate

Key figure

7% of MOT tests on Kia Ceeds built around 2018 found a fault the tester marked as dangerous, against 5% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

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

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Kia Ceed'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.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

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 Ceed's generation

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

Ceed CD (3rd gen)

CD (3rd gen) (2018-present)

Average
PETROLDIESELHYBRID ELECTRICUNKNOWN

17.4% 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 10,837 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Ceed JD (2nd gen)

JD (2nd gen) (2012-2017)

Too close to call between ratings
PETROLDIESEL

19.9% fail rate, built around 2017 (8 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 1 in 5 MOTs, 18.7%)

From 4,568 MOT tests at this ageView details →
Ceed ED (1st gen, cee'd)

ED (1st gen, cee'd) (2007-2011)

Poor
PETROLDIESEL

33.8% fail rate, built around 2011 (14 years old)

Fails more often than the average car this age (about 3 in 10 MOTs, 29%)

From 9,372 MOT tests at this ageView details →

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 Ceed.

See every build year for the Kia Ceed

Side-by-side

Kia Ceed 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
CD (3rd gen) (2018-present)
Average
Average17.4%built around 2018 (7 years old)from 10,837 MOT tests at this age
JD (2nd gen) (2012-2017)
No ratingToo close to call between ratings
No ratingToo close to call between ratings19.9%built around 2017 (8 years old)from 4,568 MOT tests at this age
ED (1st gen, cee'd) (2007-2011)
Poor
Poor33.8%built around 2011 (14 years old)from 9,372 MOT tests at this age

Each row is one generation of the Ceed, 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 Ceed fail rate by age

This chart combines every Kia Ceed 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
3 yearsbuilt around 2022
7,53512.6%
4 yearsbuilt around 2021
5,61314.1%
5 yearsbuilt around 2020
7,67214.2%
6 yearsbuilt around 2019
11,08015.4%
7 yearsbuilt around 2018
10,83717.4%
8 yearsbuilt around 2017
11,01419.3%
9 yearsbuilt around 2016
13,05622.0%
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
14,76524.4%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
15,04427.6%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
15,86829.8%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
13,00032.4%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
9,37233.8%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
10,31234.2%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
6,77934.2%
17 yearsbuilt around 2008
4,48934.6%
18 yearsbuilt around 2007
1,44534.1%

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 17 years old.

Where it ranks

Where the Kia Ceed 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

11th of 12

11th lowest fail rate of 12 Kia models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

Close to the middle third

Against other hatchbacks

48th of 84

48th lowest fail rate of 84 hatchbacks with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age.

In the middle third

Against the UK average

17.4%

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 Ceeds

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

All generations of this modelPlenty of 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

    19.4%
    Advisory: 2,943Fail: 336 (10% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pads wearing thin

    12.9%
    Advisory: 1,449Fail: 299 (17% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    11.8%
    Advisory: 1,580Fail: 293 (16% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

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

    10.6%
    Advisory: 1,568Fail: 20 (1% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    9.9%
    Advisory: 1,305Fail: 363 (22% of the times it was found)

Based on 10,837 MOT tests on 7-year-old Kia Ceeds, 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 Ceeds notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Tyres41%
  2. Suspension + Tyres19%
  3. Brakes + Suspension18%
  4. Other + Tyres17%

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

Across 2,934 MOT tests on Kia Ceed 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

93%of this model's cars first registered in 2014 to 2015 were still registered 10 years later

UK average for cars first registered in 2014 to 2015: 92% · About typical

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.

Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics (VEH0124).

Recall context

12 recalls in all

3 of the 12 Kia Ceed recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 1 Critical
  • 2 more

Top concerns

  • Kia Ceed PHEV HCA fuse replacement
  • The mesh filter inside the tandem pump may block causing insufficient oil supply and a risk of vacuum pump failure. If t
  • Vehicles may have brake fluid contamination caused by topping up with an incorrect fluid

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

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Mini

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    12.3%
    Still registered at 10 years
    95.6%

    Lower fail rate: 12.3%, against 17.4% for the Kia Ceed, both built around 2018.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate, share still registered and recalls only.

    50,561 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  2. 2

    Suzuki SX4

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    13.5%

    Lower fail rate: 13.5%, against 17.4% for the Kia Ceed, both built around 2018.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    3,314 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  3. 3

    Lexus CT

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    10.5%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    1.1%
    Dangerous
    4.2%
    Still registered at 10 years
    88.2%

    Lower fail rate: 10.5%, against 17.4% for the Kia Ceed, both built around 2018.

    3,255 MOT tests on cars built around 2018

  4. 4

    Toyota Prius

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    11.1%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    0.9%
    Dangerous
    3.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    94.4%

    Lower fail rate: 11.1%, against 17.4% for the Kia Ceed, both built around 2018.

    5 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    17,367 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 Ceed across all generations combined fails MOTs at about the rate typical for this age. It has the 11th lowest fail rate of 12 Kia models with enough MOT tests to rank, at this age. This is based on 10,837 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 Ceed ever sold: 157,983 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2018 (7 years old): 10,837 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.