2010 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
57,258 MOT tests on the 2010 Kia Ceed are in this dataset, and 71.9% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 24.1% of the time, so this is 3.9pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.6% of all tests — 7.3 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 4,272 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.7% versus 13.8%.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (29.4% vs 26.2%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.6% | 11,227 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.3% | 7,017 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 6,524 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.0% | 4,030 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 3,871 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.4% | 2,501 |
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 | 4,272 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 4,078 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 3,405 |
| 4 | Washers | 2,707 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,506 |
| 6 | Linkage ball joints | 2,459 |
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 | 39.4% | 22,540 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.3% | 17,357 |
| 3 | Brakes | 27.6% | 15,806 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 8,659 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.8% | 7,919 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.3% | 5,867 |
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 | 1,120 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 7,726 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 16,845 | 26.6% |
| 90-120k | 17,716 | 30.5% |
| 120-150k | 9,336 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 4,496 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 33,321 | 29.4% |
| Petrol | 23,937 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,927 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 12,465 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 11,710 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 10,806 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 9,350 | 29.9% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Ceed
On a 2010 Ceed, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.6% 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 2010 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 57,258 2010 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Kia Ceed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by suspension (12.3%).
Does the 2010 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 57,258 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.