2009 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 51,392 MOT tests, the 2009 Kia Ceed recorded a 72.0% pass rate. That is 2.7 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.7% of all tests — 7.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and ball joint — position lamp alone was recorded 3,899 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.6% versus 15.1%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.8pp more often than petrol ones (30.2% vs 26.4%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 41.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.7% | 10,147 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.3% | 6,337 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 5,877 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 3,358 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 3,334 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.2% | 2,153 |
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 | 3,899 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 3,864 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 3,181 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 3,061 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joints | 2,823 |
| 6 | Washers | 2,546 |
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 | 41.4% | 21,261 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.7% | 15,269 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.9% | 14,866 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.3% | 8,353 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.8% | 8,098 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 7,733 |
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 | 943 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 6,876 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 15,132 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 16,025 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 8,798 | 32.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,606 | 33.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 30,016 | 26.4% |
| Diesel | 21,373 | 30.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,005 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 11,329 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 10,550 | 28.5% |
| 2024 | 9,423 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 8,085 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2009 Ceed
On a 2009 Ceed, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (12.3% 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.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 2009 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 51,392 2009 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Kia Ceed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.7% of tests, followed by suspension (12.3%).
Does the 2009 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 33.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 51,392 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.