Kia reliability: MOT results 2024
Figures updated
Ranked 38 of 52 makes
900,040 Kia cars aged 3 to 20 had an MOT in 2024, and 26.9% failed first time (UK average 28.5%). Allowing for age and mileage, a Kia is 9% more likely to fail than the average car of the same age and mileage. At their first MOT, 12.7% failed (UK 12.7%).
Kia models ranked
| Model | Score | Fail rate | First MOT | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Niro | 125 | 12.8% | 11.3% | 59,302 |
| Kia Stinger | 116 | 13.3% | – | 2,073 |
| Kia Optima | 115 | 21.0% | – | 11,304 |
| Kia Stonic | 112 | 12.4% | 8.6% | 24,198 |
| Kia Sorento | 100 | 30.2% | 14.0% | 35,390 |
| Kia Sportage | 99 | 24.3% | 15.7% | 258,990 |
| Kia Soul | 97 | 29.6% | 9.3% | 24,191 |
| Kia Xceed | 93 | 13.5% | 13.0% | 12,012 |
| Kia Sedona | 91 | 45.6% | – | 5,021 |
| Kia Ceed | 89 | 33.3% | 15.7% | 119,301 |
| Kia RIO | 89 | 31.0% | 10.0% | 97,225 |
| Kia Venga | 89 | 27.8% | – | 47,244 |
| Kia Proceed | 86 | 24.7% | 14.3% | 5,386 |
| Kia Carens | 83 | 36.4% | – | 14,724 |
| Kia Picanto | 81 | 29.5% | 12.1% | 181,715 |
Kia MOT failure rate by age
What Kia cars fail on
| Area | Tests failing | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 8.6% | ▲ 1.6× as often |
| Lights and electrics | 8.4% | About average |
| Tyres | 6.6% | About average |
| Suspension | 6.3% | About average |
| Visibility | 5.3% | ▲ 1.3× as often |
| Steering | 2.9% | ▲ 2.0× as often |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.9% | ▼ 17% less often |
| Body and structure | 1.8% | ▼ 24% less often |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.7% | About average |
| Wheels | 0.3% | ▼ 23% less often |
Most common Kia MOT faults
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.8% of tests
- Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7% of tests
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.5% of tests
- Position lamp: not working2.2% of tests
- Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.1% of tests
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.1% of tests
Compare Kia cars with their rivals
- Nissan Qashqai vs Kia Sportage
- Ford Kuga vs Kia Sportage
- Kia Sportage vs Volkswagen Tiguan
- Kia Sportage vs Honda CR-V
- Fiat 500 vs Kia Picanto
- Toyota Aygo vs Kia Picanto
- Hyundai i10 vs Kia Picanto
- Kia Sportage vs Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
- Kia Sportage vs Peugeot 3008
- Kia Sportage vs Hyundai Tucson
- Kia Sportage vs Audi Q3
- Kia Sportage vs Toyota RAV4
- Kia Sportage vs Dacia Bigster
- Kia Sportage vs Skoda Elroq
- Kia Sportage vs Tesla Model Y
- Nissan Juke vs Kia EV3
New Kia models: Kia EV3
Frequently asked questions
›Are Kia cars reliable?
By MOT results, Kia ranks 38 of 52 makes in 2024, with a reliability score of 92 (100 is average for the same age and mileage). 26.9% of Kia cars failed their MOT first time.
›What is the most reliable Kia?
The Kia Niro, with a score of 125. The lowest-scoring is the Picanto (81).
›What do Kia cars fail their MOT on?
Steering: 2.9% of Kia MOTs failed on it, 2.0 times the rate for similar cars. The single most common fault was “Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively”.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024, Open Government Licence v3.0. How we calculate the league.