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Kia Rio exhaust, emissions and leaks problems

DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 42,207 MOT tests · Updated

At 10 years, 3.3 in 100 MOT tests of the Kia Rio failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 2.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 42,207 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), 1,382 MOT tests with a fail
  • By age: seen at 18 ages from 3 to 20 years, 395,218 MOT tests
  • Most common fail: Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction, 0.9 per 100 MOT tests

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

What the MOT tests show

What we know

3.3 fails per 100 MOT tests at 10 years, against 2.8 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 10 (all test years). That is about average.

Why it matters

An exhaust, emissions and leaks fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.

What to check

Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.

Kia Rio exhaust, emissions and leaks fails by age

Kia Rio exhaust, emissions and leaks fails per 100 MOT tests by ageSolid line: the Kia Rio. Dashed line: all cars the same age. The table below lists every value.02463 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.5), 16,724 MOT tests34 years: 0.2 per 100 (all cars 0.7), 17,706 MOT tests5 years: 0.3 per 100 (all cars 1.0), 22,227 MOT tests56 years: 0.6 per 100 (all cars 1.3), 27,718 MOT tests7 years: 1.0 per 100 (all cars 1.7), 34,299 MOT tests78 years: 1.5 per 100 (all cars 2.1), 39,618 MOT tests9 years: 2.3 per 100 (all cars 2.4), 41,749 MOT tests910 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 2.8), 42,207 MOT tests11 years: 3.8 per 100 (all cars 3.2), 37,669 MOT tests1112 years: 3.6 per 100 (all cars 3.7), 32,925 MOT tests13 years: 3.3 per 100 (all cars 4.3), 27,828 MOT tests1314 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 5.1), 20,443 MOT tests15 years: 2.4 per 100 (all cars 5.7), 14,234 MOT tests1516 years: 2.5 per 100 (all cars 6.2), 9,061 MOT tests17 years: 2.9 per 100 (all cars 6.5), 4,823 MOT tests1718 years: 4.6 per 100 (all cars 6.8), 3,012 MOT tests19 years: 5.5 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 1,922 MOT tests1920 years: 6.6 per 100 (all cars 7.0), 1,053 MOT tests
Fails per 100 MOT tests by age, all first-use years pooled. Kia Rio All class 4 vehicles the same age Shaded: over 18 years, survivors only.
AgeMOT testsFails per 100All class 4 vehicles the same age
316,7240.20.5
417,7060.20.7
522,2270.31.0
627,7180.61.3
734,2991.01.7
839,6181.52.1
941,7492.32.4
1042,2073.32.8
1137,6693.83.2
1232,9253.63.7
1327,8283.34.3
1420,4432.55.1
1514,2342.45.7
169,0612.56.2
174,8232.96.5
183,0124.66.8
19*1,9225.57.0
20*1,0536.67.0

All first-use years of the Kia Rio 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 exhaust, emissions and leaks at 10 years

Fails

Advisories (not fails)

Diagnose engine warning light 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

  • 1.2 petrol: 2.9 per 100 at 10 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 21,057 MOT tests)
  • 1.4 petrol: 0.9 per 100 at 10 years, about average for petrol class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 10,734 MOT tests)

How to check on a test drive

Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.

The most common advisory here in MOT records: Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive.

Check one Kia Rio, not the average

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

Other Kia Rio problems

Exhaust, emissions and leaks on rival models

Questions people ask

Does the Kia Rio have more exhaust, emissions and leaks problems than other cars?

3.3 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years, against 2.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 42,207 MOT tests).

How common are Kia Rio exhaust, emissions and leaks problems?

3.3 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 2.8 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 42,207 MOT tests).

What is the most common Kia Rio exhaust, emissions and leaks fail?

0.9 in 100 MOT tests at 10 years: Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction (400 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, 395,218 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