2013 Kia Carens — MOT failures & pass rate
8,860 MOT tests on the 2013 Kia Carens are in this dataset, and 77.8% of them passed. MPVs of a similar age fail 20.9% of the time, so this is 1.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.4%) and brakes (9.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, stop lamp and tread depth — brake pads alone was recorded 477 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 25.8% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 21.3% of the time against 22.3% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 1,012 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.3% | 822 |
| 3 | Tyres | 6.8% | 605 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.8% | 600 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 358 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.5% | 136 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 477 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 428 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 305 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 288 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 282 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 258 |
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 | 32.6% | 2,893 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.2% | 2,589 |
| 3 | Other defects | 16.3% | 1,441 |
| 4 | Suspension | 15.1% | 1,339 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.1% | 809 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 368 |
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 | 130 | 12.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,547 | 16.9% |
| 60-90k | 3,555 | 21.7% |
| 90-120k | 2,556 | 25.3% |
| 120-150k | 802 | 24.8% |
| 150k+ | 268 | 25.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 7,614 | 22.3% |
| Petrol | 1,246 | 21.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,798 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 1,803 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 1,810 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 1,765 | 23.2% |
| 2025 | 1,684 | 24.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Carens
On a 2013 Carens, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.3% 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.
- Tyres (6.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
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 2013 Kia Carenss pass their MOT?
77.8% of the 8,860 2013 Kia Carens MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Kia Carens?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.4% of tests, followed by brakes (9.3%).
Does the 2013 Carens get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.3% in the 0-30k band to 25.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,860 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.