2012 Kia Carens — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Kia Carens passed 73.4% of its 707 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 22.4% of the time, so this is 4.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests against 14.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, rbt (sp) and position lamp — headlamp alone was recorded 56 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 28.1% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.8% 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 | 18.5% | 131 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.7% | 104 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.3% | 66 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.4% | 52 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 46 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.5% | 25 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 56 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 52 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 38 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 37 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 36 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 29.8% | 211 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.3% | 207 |
| 3 | Suspension | 25.2% | 178 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.3% | 87 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 79 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 48 |
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 | 129 | 20.2% |
| 60-90k | 246 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 172 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 79 | 32.9% |
| 150k+ | 57 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 609 | 27.8% |
| Petrol | 98 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 163 | 25.1% |
| 2022 | 156 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 158 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 128 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 102 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Carens
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.7% 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 (9.3% 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 2012 Kia Carenss pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 707 2012 Kia Carens MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Kia Carens?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.5% of tests, followed by brakes (14.7%).
Does the 2012 Carens get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.2% in the 30-60k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 707 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.