2008 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Kia Ceed passed 70.7% of its 35,608 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests against 13.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and headlamp aim — position lamp alone was recorded 3,025 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.2% once past 150k — 2.2× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 28.3% fail against 30.6% for diesel, a 2.4-point gap across 35,602 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 44.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 20.6% | 7,343 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.8% | 4,896 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.2% | 4,686 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.9% | 2,457 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.6% | 2,336 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.6% | 1,626 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 3,025 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 2,893 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 2,759 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 2,708 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 2,064 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,853 |
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 | 44.1% | 15,712 |
| 2 | Brakes | 32.2% | 11,460 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.7% | 10,585 |
| 4 | Other defects | 18.7% | 6,658 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 5,938 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 5,626 |
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 | 381 | 15.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,244 | 20.1% |
| 60-90k | 9,462 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 11,940 | 30.6% |
| 120-150k | 7,340 | 32.7% |
| 150k+ | 3,232 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 19,921 | 28.3% |
| Diesel | 15,681 | 30.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,942 | 28.4% |
| 2022 | 8,180 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 7,287 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 6,193 | 30.3% |
| 2025 | 5,006 | 30.0% |
What to check before buying a 2008 Ceed
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 20.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (20.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.8% 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.
- Brakes (13.2% 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 2008 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 35,608 2008 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Kia Ceed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 20.6% of tests, followed by suspension (13.8%).
Does the 2008 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.2% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 35,608 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.