MOT fail rates
Kia Optima MOT fail rate by age
How often the Kia Optima fails its MOT at each age, compared with all cars of the same age, and what it fails on. From 45,012 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 6 years, the most tested age
201 of 340 model groups with enough tests fail less often at 6 years.
What stands out
- At 3 years the Kia Optima fails 16.8% of MOTs (1,932 tests), 4.8 points above the 12.1% for all cars that age. At 12 years it fails 38.9% (1,004 tests), 3.0 points above the 36.0% average.
- It moves from below to above the all-car rate between 9 and 10 years.
- Its most common structural or mechanical fail item at 6 years: Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn, at 0.7 per 100 MOTs.
MOT fail rate by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 16.8% | 1,932 | 12.1% | +4.8 pts | 32,593 miles |
| 4 years | 17.7% | 4,646 | 13.4% | +4.3 pts | 42,975 miles |
| 5 years | 16.7% | 7,986 | 15.3% | +1.3 pts | 53,161 miles |
| 6 years | 17.8% | 9,030 | 17.8% | 0.0 pts | 62,754 miles |
| 7 years | 18.4% | 7,915 | 20.6% | −2.2 pts | 70,735 miles |
| 8 years | 20.7% | 5,760 | 23.8% | −3.1 pts | 78,524 miles |
| 9 years | 24.4% | 2,811 | 27.1% | −2.7 pts | 81,733 miles |
| 10 years | 31.9% | 2,283 | 30.3% | +1.6 pts | 86,779 miles |
| 11 years | 34.4% | 1,645 | 33.3% | +1.2 pts | 93,821 miles |
| 12 years | 38.9% | 1,004 | 36.0% | +3.0 pts | 98,171 miles |
Most common fail items at 6 years
Split into structural or mechanical items and wear items. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
Structural and mechanical
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn Major | 0.7 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Major | 0.6 |
| Service brake performance: excessively fluctuating Major | 0.5 |
Out of 9,030 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Wear and upkeep
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Dangerous | 4.6 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Dangerous | 3.3 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Major | 2.1 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Dangerous | 2 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Major | 1.8 |
| Headlight aimed too high Major | 1.4 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Major | 0.6 |
Out of 9,030 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Other models at 6 years
| Model | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage | 17.4% | 141,166 | 17.8% |
| Kia Picanto | 17.3% | 60,091 | 17.8% |
| Kia Ceed | 18.5% | 37,993 | 17.8% |
MOT fail rate by first-use year
Each year has its own page: the fail rate for cars first used that year at each MOT from 2022 to 2025 with at least 1,000 tests, the most common faults at that age, and the car tax and ULEZ rules for that year.
First-use year data updated .
More on the Kia Optima
Looking at one Kia Optima?
These are figures for the model, not for one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at a single car: its MOT tests, defects, advisories and mileage readings.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 22 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources