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Kia Picanto steering problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 60,091 MOT tests · Updated

At 6 years, 0.4 in 100 MOT tests of the Kia Picanto failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 60,091 MOT tests) [1].

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  • Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 239 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 19 ages from 3 to 21 years, 730,252 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Steering track rod end: ball joint play, 0.3 per 100 MOT tests

Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.

What the MOT tests show

What we know

0.4 fails per 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 6 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

A steering fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

Kia Picanto steering fails by age

Kia Picanto steering fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Kia Picanto. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.02463 years: 0.0 per 100 (all cars 0.1), 48,015 MOT tests34 years: 0.1 per 100 (all cars 0.2), 53,804 MOT tests5 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.3), 56,338 MOT tests56 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 60,091 MOT tests7 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 0.8), 56,214 MOT tests78 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 1.2), 54,354 MOT tests9 years: 0.4 per 100 (all cars 1.8), 54,021 MOT tests910 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 54,834 MOT tests11 years: 0.9 per 100 (all cars 2.5), 51,857 MOT tests1112 years: 1.3 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 50,744 MOT tests13 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 2.9), 50,938 MOT tests1314 years: 3.1 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 40,396 MOT tests15 years: 4.0 per 100 (all cars 3.3), 32,053 MOT tests1516 years: 4.9 per 100 (all cars 3.4), 23,622 MOT tests17 years: 5.3 per 100 (all cars 3.6), 15,284 MOT tests1718 years: 5.4 per 100 (all cars 3.9), 13,012 MOT tests19 years: 5.8 per 100 (all cars 4.1), 8,801 MOT tests1920 years: 5.8 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 4,524 MOT tests21 years: 5.8 per 100 (all cars 4.2), 1,350 MOT tests21
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Kia Picanto All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
348,0150.00.1
453,8040.10.2
556,3380.20.3
660,0910.40.5
756,2140.30.8
854,3540.31.2
954,0210.41.8
1054,8340.62.1
1151,8570.92.5
1250,7441.32.8
1350,9382.32.9
1440,3963.13.2
1532,0534.03.3
1623,6224.93.4
1715,2845.33.6
1813,0125.43.9
19*8,8015.84.1
20*4,5245.84.2
21*1,3505.84.2

All first-use years of the Kia Picanto pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years. * Only survivors are still tested at this age.

What fails in the steering at 6 years

Fails

  • Steering track rod end: ball joint play: 0.3 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.2. Replace track rod end: estimated £54–£128 (0.5–1 h at £78/h (ONS local-garage repair quotes, 1,058 quotes from 65 garages, Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) + parts £15–£50) Track rod end ball joint has excessive play MOT fail

Advisories (not fails)

Replace track rod end cost

Repair figures are estimates, not quotes: how we estimate repair costs.

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  • Model risks for this year and fuel
  • What similar cars did at their next MOT
  • Repairs ahead
  • Viewing checklist

See a sample report

By engine and fuel

  • 1.0 petrol: 0.4 per 100 at 6 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 29,343 MOT tests)
  • 1.2 petrol: 0.4 per 100 at 6 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 30,728 MOT tests)
  • 1.1 petrol: 3.8 per 100 at 14 years, fails 1.3–1.5× as often as petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 19,641 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

With the engine running, turn the wheel lock to lock: listen for knocks or groans and feel for play at the straight-ahead position. On the drive the car should not wander.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Track rod end: ball joint has slight play.

Check one Kia Picanto, not the average

The figures here describe Kia Picanto cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.

Other Kia Picanto problems

Steering on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Kia Picanto have more steering problems than other cars?

0.4 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 60,091 MOT tests).

How common are Kia Picanto steering problems?

0.4 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years failed on steering, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 60,091 MOT tests).

What is the most common Kia Picanto steering fail?

0.3 in 100 MOT tests at 6 years: Steering track rod end: ball joint play (197 MOT tests with it).

Sources

  1. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 730,252 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
  2. Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, local price quotes (car repair items). ONS price quotes, series 610236. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.

Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare