MOT fail rates by first-use year
2014 Kia Soul MOT fail rate and common faults
How Kia Soul cars first used in 2014 did at their MOTs from 2022 to 2025, against all cars of the same age. From 10,584 DVSA MOT tests of these cars. First use is usually the date the car was first registered.
MOT data updated
At 11 years, tested in 2025
What stands out
- In 2025, at 11 years old, Kia Soul cars first used in 2014 failed 27.5% of MOTs (2,603 tests), 5.7 points below the 33.3% for all cars that age.
- From 2022 to 2025, as these cars went from 8 to 11 years old, the fail rate moved from 19.9% to 27.5%.
- Kia Soul cars first used a year earlier, in 2013, failed 36.6% at the same age of 11 years (1,301 tests, in 2024).
- The most common fail item that is not a wear item, for the Kia Soul at 11 years, is steering track rod end: ball joint play, at 9.8 per 100 MOTs (all cars: 1.6).
MOT fail rate by test year
| Test year | Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 8 years | 19.9% | 2,684 | 23.8% | −3.9 pts |
| 2023 | 9 years | 22.5% | 2,674 | 27.1% | −4.7 pts |
| 2024 | 10 years | 25.6% | 2,623 | 30.3% | −4.7 pts |
| 2025 | 11 years | 27.5% | 2,603 | 33.3% | −5.7 pts |
Most common faults at 11 years
These figures cover all Kia Soul MOTs at 11 years: cars first used 2011 to 2014, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,085). 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 | 9.8 | 1.6 |
| Side/position light not working Wear | 3.3 | 3.2 |
| Brake pads under 1.5 mm Wear | 2.7 | 2.1 |
| Suspension ball joint worn | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Wear | 2.6 | 1.9 |
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Wear | 2.5 | 2.8 |
| Handbrake too weak | 2.3 | 1.2 |
| Suspension arm ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 2.1 | 0.5 |
| Dipped headlight not working Wear | 2.0 | 1.9 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Wear | 1.7 | 1.6 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,085). A test with two items counts once for each.
Advisories
| Advisory | Per 100 MOTs | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread close to the legal limit or worn on the edge Wear | 16.4 | 17.6 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 11.5 | 10.0 |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Wear | 10.9 | 8.7 |
| Brake pads wearing thin Wear | 10.0 | 7.8 |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | 8.4 | 3.7 |
| Track rod end ball joint: slight play | 6.0 | 1.4 |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources Wear | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Suspension pin or bush worn, without excessive movement | 3.2 | 6.6 |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively | 3.2 | 2.6 |
Per 100 of the MOTs above (n=9,085). A test with two items counts once for each.
Fuel type at 11 years
These figures cover all Kia Soul MOTs at 11 years: cars first used 2011 to 2014, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,085). Each fuel is set against all cars of the same fuel and age. Fuels with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Fuel | Share of tests | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars, same fuel | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 73.0% | 35.7% | 6,623 | 34.3% | 73,974 miles |
| Petrol | 27.0% | 34.7% | 2,447 | 32.5% | 66,374 miles |
Fail rate by mileage at 11 years
These figures cover all Kia Soul MOTs at 11 years: cars first used 2011 to 2014, tested 2022 to 2025 (n=9,085). At 11 years, Kia Soul cars at 90,000 to 120,000 miles failed more often (41.8%, n=1,823) than those at 30,000 to 60,000 miles (28.2%, n=2,627). Bands with fewer than 1,000 tests are not shown.
| Mileage at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 to 60,000 miles | 28.2% | 2,627 | 26.2% |
| 60,000 to 90,000 miles | 38.4% | 3,570 | 34.2% |
| 90,000 to 120,000 miles | 41.8% | 1,823 | 37.8% |
Car tax rules for a 2014 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 2014 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 2014
| Model | Age at test | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 31.3% | 18,743 | 33.3% |
| Kia Picanto (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 30.3% | 14,452 | 33.3% |
| Kia Ceed (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 36.2% | 10,894 | 33.3% |
| Kia Rio (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 34.0% | 10,840 | 33.3% |
| Kia Venga (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 35.7% | 5,358 | 33.3% |
| Kia Sorento (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 32.8% | 2,843 | 33.3% |
| Kia Carens (2014) | 11 years in 2025 | 35.4% | 2,101 | 33.3% |
More on the Kia Soul
Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.
These figures describe 2014 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.