2010 Kia Carens — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,477 MOT tests, the 2010 Kia Carens recorded a 72.0% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 25.7% of the time, so this is 2.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.3%) and brakes (13.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, rbt (sp) and ball joint — headlamp alone was recorded 147 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.9% in the 0-30k band and 33.8% in the 150k+ band, a 20.9-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.6% fail against 29.1% for diesel, a 3.6-point gap across 2,477 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 380 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 324 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 275 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.8% | 193 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 129 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 115 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 147 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 141 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 136 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 128 |
| 5 | Wipers | 98 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 94 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.4% | 827 |
| 2 | Tyres | 32.9% | 814 |
| 3 | Brakes | 30.3% | 750 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.9% | 320 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 283 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 198 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 31 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 371 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 747 | 25.7% |
| 90-120k | 812 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 356 | 34.3% |
| 150k+ | 160 | 33.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 1,691 | 29.1% |
| Petrol | 786 | 25.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 614 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 555 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 507 | 29.2% |
| 2024 | 423 | 26.7% |
| 2025 | 378 | 29.1% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Carens
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (11.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2010 Kia Carenss pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 2,477 2010 Kia Carens MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Kia Carens?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by brakes (13.1%).
Does the 2010 Carens get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 33.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,477 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.