MOT fail rates by first-use year
2009 Kia Soul MOT fail rate and common faults
How Kia Soul cars first used in 2009 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 8,719 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 16 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 16 years old, Kia Soul cars first used in 2009 failed 48.0% of MOTs (1,922 tests), 5.4 points above the 42.6% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 13 to 16 years old, the fail rate moved from 43.0% to 48.0%.
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Kia Soul at 16 years, is steering track rod end: ball joint play, at 12.4 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.9).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 13 years | 43.0% | 2,396 | 38.3% | +4.8 pts |
| 2023 | 14 years | 44.9% | 2,280 | 40.3% | +4.6 pts |
| 2024 | 15 years | 45.8% | 2,121 | 41.6% | +4.2 pts |
| 2025 | 16 years | 48.0% | 1,922 | 42.6% | +5.4 pts |
Most common faults at 16 years
These figures cover all Kia Soul MOTs at 16 years: cars first used in 2009, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=1,922). The list uses every first-use year so it has enough tests. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
MOT fail items
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play | 12.4 | 1.9 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 9.3 | 5.9 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 5.2 | 2.5 |
| Handbrake too weak | 4.1 | 2.5 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 3.8 | 3.1 |
| Anti-roll bar link worn | 3.5 | 1.6 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps Wear | 3.4 | 1.9 |
| Coil spring broken | 3.1 | 3.9 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 2.8 | 2.3 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 2.7 | 2.6 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,922). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 18.3 | 11.2 |
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 18.0 | 18.2 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 17.6 | 8.8 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 12.0 | 9.5 |
| Coil spring: corroded | 11.9 | 7.4 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 9.7 | 5.9 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 9.4 | 10.7 |
| Track rod end ball joint: slight play | 8.2 | 1.8 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 7.6 | 6.8 |
| Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) | 6.8 | 3.0 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=1,922). A test with two items counts once for each.
Car tax rules for a 2009 car
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emissions band, from band A (the lowest emissions) to band M. The band is set by the CO2 figure on the V5C logbook.
- Electric cars have paid vehicle tax since 1 April 2025, under the rules for their registration date.
These are the rules, not the amount for a specific car. Car tax check
ULEZ and clean air zones
- Petrol cars first registered from 2006 usually meet Euro 4, the petrol standard for the London ULEZ, so they usually do not pay the daily charge.
- Diesel cars first registered before September 2015 usually do not meet Euro 6, so a 2009 diesel usually pays the ULEZ daily charge. A few models met Euro 6 early.
- Fully electric cars do not pay the ULEZ charge.
- The clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol use the same Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel standards. The low emission zones in Scotland use them too, but enforce them with fines, not a daily charge.
The Euro standard of the car decides, not the year alone. ULEZ checker
Other years of the Kia Soul
Other Kia models first used in 2009
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Picanto (2009) | 16 years in 2025 | 45.7% | 11,838 | 42.6% |
| Kia Ceed (2009) | 16 years in 2025 | 47.9% | 6,108 | 42.6% |
| Kia Rio (2009) | 16 years in 2025 | 45.5% | 4,193 | 42.6% |
| Kia Sportage (2009) | 16 years in 2025 | 44.1% | 1,845 | 42.6% |
| Kia Sorento (2009) | 16 years in 2025 | 45.0% | 1,050 | 42.6% |
| Kia Carens (2009) | 15 years in 2024 | 49.8% | 1,071 | 41.6% |
More on the Kia Soul
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2009 Kia Soul cars as a group, not any one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at the car you are buying: its MOT history, what similar cars did next, and what to ask the seller.
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 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources
Car tax and clean air zone rules are summarised from GOV.UK and Transport for London guidance. They are general rules and are not drawn from the MOT data.