2019 Kia Carens — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 459 MOT tests, the 2019 Kia Carens recorded an 83.7% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail 11.4% of the time, so this is 4.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.8%) and tyres (7.6%) 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 wipers — brake pads alone was recorded 26 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 21.7% once past 60-90k — 2.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 25.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 20.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 36 |
| 2 | Tyres | 7.6% | 35 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.2% | 24 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.1% | 19 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 12 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 3 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 16 |
| 3 | Wipers | 16 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 15 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 13 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 13 |
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 | 25.7% | 118 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.8% | 114 |
| 3 | Other defects | 12.2% | 56 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 16 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 10 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 6 |
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 | 144 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 216 | 17.6% |
| 60-90k | 60 | 21.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 248 | 16.1% |
| Petrol | 211 | 16.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 114 | 14.0% |
| 2023 | 106 | 15.1% |
| 2024 | 107 | 16.8% |
| 2025 | 108 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Carens
On a 2019 Carens, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (7.6% 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.
- Brakes (5.2% 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.
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 2019 Kia Carenss pass their MOT?
83.7% of the 459 2019 Kia Carens MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Kia Carens?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by tyres (7.6%).
Does the 2019 Carens get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 21.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 459 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.