Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, 3 to 15 years old

Kia models ranked by MOT fails

Q: Which Kia models have the fewest MOT fails?

236,468 MOT tests at 3 to 9 years put the Kia Niro first: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.87); ranks 1 to 3 overlap, so it is level with the Kia Stinger. Next is the Kia Stinger: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.88).

Q: Which Kia models fail their MOT most often?

54,327 MOT tests at 4 to 15 years put the Kia Carens last of the 15 in this list: 22% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

Q: How many Kia models are compared?

15 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 3,461,697 MOT tests in all; 0 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 2 at least 20% more often.

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 3,461,697 MOT tests · Updated 7 Oct 2026

Kia Niro ranks first among Kia models (95% rank range 1–3, statistically close to the next 2): no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.87) (236,468 MOT tests) ^[1].

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15 models ranked, 0 with at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (95% interval, at 3 or more ages), from 3,461,697 MOT tests ^[1]
Kia Stinger is next: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.88) (7,002 MOT tests)
Kia Carens is last of the 15: 22% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage (54,327 MOT tests)

Which year and engine a car has, and how it was kept, decide where one car sits in these ranges. Check the reg first.

Fail rates are for the model across its MOT tests, never a forecast for one car.

No model in this list clears the award rule (at least 20% fewer MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage, with the 95% interval, at 3 or more ages).

This is DVSA MOT data, not road tests, owner surveys or breakdown records, and nobody paid to be included. Each model is compared with all cars tested at the same age, in the same mileage band and in its own mix of test years, so a low-mileage model does not look better for its low mileage. "Most reliable" in our titles is measured as MOT failure rate at the same age and mileage, not breakdowns.

Kia models: the ranking

Ranked by MOT fails against cars the same age and mileage, from 15 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each of 3 or more ages between 3 to 15 years (pooled). The range under each rank is where the model could sit once sampling error is allowed for. Each adjusted rate reads against its own all-car rate, because models are tested at different ages.

Top 15 of 15. Adjusted rate = the model's rate at typical mileage for its own ages, against all cars at those ages; raw = its own ages and mileage.
#95% range	Model	Against cars the same age and mileage	Adjusted rateits own ages, typical mileage	Rawits own ages and mileage	MOT tests	Next step
11–3	Kia Nirosmall SUV	close to averageratio 0.87 (0.86–0.88)	11.4%all cars: 13.1%	12.5%	236,468at 3 to 9 years	Kia Niro MOT fail rate · Kia Niro common problems
21–4	Kia Stingerexecutive car	close to averageratio 0.88 (0.82–0.94)	11.9%all cars: 13.6%	11.6%	7,002at 3 to 6 years	Kia Stinger common problems
31–3	Kia Stonicsmall SUV	close to averageratio 0.89 (0.88–0.91)	12.0%all cars: 13.4%	11.4%	94,338at 3 to 7 years	Kia Stonic MOT fail rate · Kia Stonic common problems
43–4	Kia Optimaexecutive car	close to averageratio 0.95 (0.93–0.97)	17.7%all cars: 18.7%	19.9%	43,401at 3 to 11 years	Kia Optima MOT fail rate · Kia Optima common problems
55–7	Kia Sorentolarge SUV	close to averageratio 1.02 (1.01–1.03)	25.2%all cars: 24.7%	26.8%	123,534at 3 to 15 years	Kia Sorento MOT fail rate · Kia Sorento common problems
65–7	Kia Sportagefamily SUV	close to averageratio 1.03 (1.03–1.03)	21.5%all cars: 20.8%	22.3%	1,047,572at 3 to 15 years	Kia Sportage MOT fail rate · Kia Sportage common problems
75–7	Kia Soulsmall SUV	close to averageratio 1.04 (1.03–1.05)	29.2%all cars: 28.2%	28.4%	94,494at 3 to 15 years	Kia Soul MOT fail rate · Kia Soul common problems
88–9	Kia XCeedsmall SUV	close to averageratio 1.08 (1.05–1.10)	12.4%all cars: 11.6%	12.4%	47,603at 3 to 5 years	Kia XCeed MOT fail rate · Kia XCeed common problems
98–9	Kia SedonaMPV	close to averageratio 1.08 (1.06–1.10)	43.2%all cars: 40.0%	43.4%	11,173at 12 to 15 years	Kia Sedona common problems
1010–11	Kia VengaMPV	close to averageratio 1.12 (1.12–1.13)	29.5%all cars: 26.3%	26.7%	189,163at 3 to 15 years	Kia Venga MOT fail rate · Kia Venga common problems
1110–11	Kia Riosupermini	close to averageratio 1.13 (1.12–1.13)	30.2%all cars: 26.7%	29.0%	373,466at 3 to 15 years	Kia Rio MOT fail rate · Kia Rio common problems
12certain	Kia Ceedfamily hatchback	close to averageratio 1.15 (1.15–1.16)	30.4%all cars: 26.4%	31.4%	463,480at 3 to 15 years	Kia Ceed MOT fail rate · Kia Ceed common problems
1313–15	Kia ProCeed (first used from 2019)estate car	close to averageratio 1.21 (1.17–1.26)	15.1%all cars: 12.4%	15.9%	15,247at 3 to 6 years	Kia ProCeed MOT fail rate · Kia ProCeed common problems
1413–15	Kia Picantocity car	22% more fails (21–22% more)	30.9%all cars: 25.4%	26.6%	660,429at 3 to 15 years	Kia Picanto MOT fail rate · Kia Picanto common problems
1513–15	Kia CarensMPV	22% more fails (21–24% more)	32.2%all cars: 26.4%	33.7%	54,327at 4 to 15 years	Kia Carens MOT fail rate · Kia Carens common problems

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The top 10 in this list, model by model

1 · About average

Kia Niro

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.87, 95% CI 0.86–0.88), from 236,468 MOT tests at 3 to 9 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 11.4% (11.3%–11.5%), against 13.1% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 12.5%. Rank range 1–3.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were 71% hybrid, 29% electric.

2 · About average

Kia Stinger

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.88, 95% CI 0.82–0.94), from 7,002 MOT tests at 3 to 6 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 11.9% (11.2%–12.7%), against 13.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 11.6%. Rank range 1–4.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were 77% petrol, 23% diesel.

3 · About average

Kia Stonic

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.88–0.91), from 94,338 MOT tests at 3 to 7 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 12.0% (11.8%–12.2%), against 13.4% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 11.4%. Rank range 1–3.

Check before you buy: no part fails significantly more often than on cars the same age (ages 3 to 15).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were 78% petrol, 12% hybrid.

4 · About average

Kia Optima

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.95, 95% CI 0.93–0.97), from 43,401 MOT tests at 3 to 11 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 17.7% (17.4%–18.1%), against 18.7% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 19.9%. Rank range 3–4.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 2.1–2.4× as often as cars the same age (768 fails in 45,012 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.8–2.0× as often as cars the same age (3,159 fails in 45,012 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on road wheels 1.4–1.8× as often as cars the same age (190 fails in 45,012 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an executive car; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

5 · About average

Kia Sorento

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03), from 123,534 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 25.2% (24.9%–25.4%), against 24.7% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 26.8%. Rank range 5–7.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 2.7–2.8× as often as cars the same age (4,704 fails in 124,687 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on seat belts and airbags 1.8–2.0× as often as cars the same age (1,455 fails in 124,687 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.47–1.52× as often as cars the same age (9,548 fails in 124,687 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a large SUV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

6 · About average

Kia Sportage

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.03, 95% CI 1.03–1.03), from 1,047,572 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 21.5% (21.4%–21.6%), against 20.8% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 22.3%. Rank range 5–7.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 1.85–1.90× as often as cars the same age (19,275 fails in 1,052,126 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.82–1.84× as often as cars the same age (79,157 fails in 1,052,126 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on visibility 1.27–1.29× as often as cars the same age (47,706 fails in 1,052,126 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a family SUV; the ones tested were 55% diesel, 40% petrol.

7 · About average

Kia Soul

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.04, 95% CI 1.03–1.05), from 94,494 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 29.2% (28.9%–29.5%), against 28.2% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 28.4%. Rank range 5–7.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 4.2–4.4× as often as cars the same age (7,119 fails in 95,448 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on brakes 1.36–1.42× as often as cars the same age (7,995 fails in 95,448 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were 60% diesel, 30% petrol.

8 · About average

Kia XCeed

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.08, 95% CI 1.05–1.10), from 47,603 MOT tests at 3 to 5 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 12.4% (12.2%–12.8%), against 11.6% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 12.4%. Rank range 8–9.

Check before you buy: fails on visibility 1.7–1.9× as often as cars the same age (2,440 fails in 47,938 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at a small SUV; the ones tested were mostly petrol.

9 · About average

Kia Sedona

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.08, 95% CI 1.06–1.10), from 11,173 MOT tests at 12 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 43.2% (42.3%–44.1%), against 40.0% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 43.4%. Rank range 8–9.

Check before you buy: fails on brakes 1.5–1.6× as often as cars the same age (1,667 fails in 11,577 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an MPV; the ones tested were mostly diesel.

10 · About average

Kia Venga

Why it ranks here: No clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 1.12, 95% CI 1.12–1.13), from 189,163 MOT tests at 3 to 15 years. At typical mileage its rate would be about 29.5% (29.3%–29.8%), against 26.3% for all cars at the same ages; raw (its own ages and mileage) 26.7%. Rank range 10–11.

Check before you buy: fails on steering 4.1–4.2× as often as cars the same age (12,199 fails in 190,286 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted); fails on lights and electrics 1.2–1.3× as often as cars the same age (21,667 fails in 190,286 MOT tests at ages 3 to 15, not mileage-adjusted).

Suits: buyers looking at an MPV; the ones tested were 75% petrol, 25% diesel.

How to choose Kia models with this list

Compare like with like: against cars the same age and mileage, this list runs from about average (Kia Niro) to 22% more (Kia Carens).
0 of the 15 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 2 at least 20% more often; the other 13 are within that band, or too uncertain to say.
Look at what a model fails on: 7 of the 10 models above have a part that fails more often than on cars the same age.
Then check the one car: its own MOT history and advisories say more about it than its model's average.

Found one on the list? Check that car

A ranking compares models at the same age and mileage; it cannot say how one car was kept. A registration shows that car's own DVSA record: its MOT tests, the mileage at each test and the recall flag.

Free car check by registration The MOT record, the mileage readings and the recall flag in one overview, with how the model does at its MOT.
Check any car's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
Mileage check by registration The odometer reading from each MOT, with drops, jumps and long gaps flagged.

How we rank

3,461,697 MOT tests from 2022–2025 of cars 3 to 15 years old. For each model and age, the tests are split into 6 mileage bands (<30k, 30-60k, 60-90k, 90-120k, 120-150k, 150k+); the expected fails are what all cars of that age would fail in the same bands, corrected to the model's own mix of test years. The ratio of the model's fails to the expected fails sets its place. The adjusted rate is that ratio times the all-car rate at the model's own ages, so it reads against that rate: a model tested only at 3 to 5 years is compared with young cars, not with this list's average.

The 95% intervals cover sampling error only (Wilson intervals). A model is called fewer or more only when its interval is at least 20% from the all-car rate, overall and at 3 or more ages ("close to average" when the interval excludes the all-car rate by less); awards use the same rule. Test years: Each model's expected fails therefore use its own mix of test years 2022–2025, age by age; the mileage bands themselves pool the four years, which can leave a small bias in favour of models first sold late in the window. Generations of a model are pooled unless the data splits them; each row says which years it covers. How we compare

Limitation: MOT tests record roadworthiness defects on the test day. They do not record breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs, and they cannot separate design from upkeep: a model whose owners service it before every MOT looks better here. Only cars still on the road are tested.

More lists

Questions people ask

Which Kia models have the fewest MOT fails?

236,468 MOT tests at 3 to 9 years put the Kia Niro first: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.87); ranks 1 to 3 overlap, so it is level with the Kia Stinger. Next is the Kia Stinger: no clear difference from cars the same age and mileage by our 20% rule (ratio 0.88).

Which Kia models fail their MOT most often?

54,327 MOT tests at 4 to 15 years put the Kia Carens last of the 15 in this list: 22% more MOT fails than cars the same age and mileage.

How many Kia models are compared?

15 models with at least 1,000 MOT tests at each age counted, 3,461,697 MOT tests in all; 0 fail at least 20% less often than cars the same age and mileage and 2 at least 20% more often.

Sources

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 3,461,697 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.