Kia Ceed: what fails at MOT
159,000 MOT tests on the Kia Ceed in 2024, counted. 31.3% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
31.2% of Kia Ceed tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 25.8%, so the Ceed does worse than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (9.2% of tests), brakes (7% of tests) and suspension (6.2% of tests). It fails on lights and electrics, brakes and wipers, washers and windscreen more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,338 | 14.4% | 10.9% | 26,500 18,300 to 38,300 |
| 2020 | 6,385 | 15.6% | 11.5% | 31,500 21,900 to 43,900 |
| 2019 | 14,166 | 15.8% | 13.4% | 40,300 29,800 to 53,900 |
| 2018 | 14,444 | 16.4% | 15.6% | 47,600 35,300 to 63,100 |
| 2017 | 11,447 | 20.4% | 18.2% | 56,600 41,500 to 73,800 |
| 2016 | 12,242 | 22.5% | 21.3% | 63,700 47,500 to 82,500 |
| 2015 | 14,365 | 26.0% | 24.4% | 70,300 53,100 to 89,900 |
| 2014 | 14,057 | 32.6% | 27.7% | 77,500 58,700 to 98,500 |
| 2013 | 14,022 | 37.9% | 30.6% | 88,500 67,400 to 112,600 |
| 2012 | 14,110 | 44.0% | 33.4% | 95,600 73,300 to 120,500 |
| 2011 | 8,501 | 48.8% | 36.1% | 99,800 76,300 to 125,100 |
| 2010 | 10,339 | 48.8% | 38.6% | 99,100 74,500 to 124,700 |
| 2009 | 8,933 | 49.2% | 39.8% | 98,300 73,600 to 124,000 |
| 2008 | 5,984 | 50.5% | 41.5% | 104,800 81,700 to 128,900 |
| 2007 | 3,107 | 52.1% | 41.5% | 106,900 82,200 to 133,700 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Kia Ceed tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Ceed | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 9.2% | 6.9% | More than most |
| Brakes | 7.0% | 4.1% | More than most |
| Suspension | 6.2% | 5.6% | |
| Tyres | 5.5% | 4.2% | |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 4.2% | 2.9% | More than most |
| Steering | 3.3% | 1.2% | More than most |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.3% | 1.9% | |
| Body and structure | 1.2% | 1.9% | Less than most |
The parts that fail most
- Tyre3.5%
- Track rod end2.7%
- Side light2.5%
- Brake light2.4%
- Brake test2.3%
- Washers2.3%
- Headlamp2.3%
- Tyre tread2.2%
- Footbrake2.2%
- Brake pads2.0%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Side light: not working2.4%
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.4%
- Brake light: not working2.1%
- Tyre tread: below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.8%
- Brake test: efficiency below requirements1.8%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.8%
- Ball joint: excessively worn1.6%
- Footbrake: excessively binding1.6%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge14.4%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened8.5%
- Brake pads: wearing thin7.0%
- Suspension pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement6.9%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing6.5%
- Footbrake: binding but not excessively3.1%
- Coil spring: corroded2.8%
- Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened2.3%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “Do the wipers and washers work properly, and is the windscreen chipped or cracked?”
- “Is there any play, knocking or stiffness in the steering?”
Check a Kia Ceed's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.