2011 Kia Carens — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Kia Carens passed 70.2% of its 2,624 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.7 percentage points worse than MPVs of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (17.2%) and brakes (16.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 224 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 37.1% versus 22.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 33.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 27.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 451 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.0% | 420 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.7% | 360 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.4% | 193 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 124 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 87 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 224 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 163 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 163 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 141 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 111 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 110 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 33.4% | 876 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.0% | 841 |
| 3 | Brakes | 29.5% | 774 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 331 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.1% | 318 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 177 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 367 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 953 | 29.1% |
| 90-120k | 771 | 30.2% |
| 120-150k | 374 | 35.8% |
| 150k+ | 132 | 37.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,173 | 30.5% |
| Petrol | 444 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 610 | 27.7% |
| 2022 | 581 | 28.1% |
| 2023 | 553 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 481 | 30.6% |
| 2025 | 399 | 32.6% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Carens
On a 2011 Carens, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.0% 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 (13.7% 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 2011 Kia Carenss pass their MOT?
70.2% of the 2,624 2011 Kia Carens MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Kia Carens?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by brakes (16.0%).
Does the 2011 Carens get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 22.9% in the 30-60k band to 37.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,624 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.