2011 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 50,778 MOT tests, the 2011 Kia Ceed recorded a 71.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 22.8% of the time, so this is 5.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests against 13.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, stop lamp and headlamp — position lamp alone was recorded 3,852 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 31.8% once past 150k.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.2% fail against 28.9% for diesel, a 2.6-point gap across 50,778 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 33.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 26.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 29.3% 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% | 9,938 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.2% | 6,707 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.5% | 6,348 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.3% | 3,733 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.4% | 3,257 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 1,208 |
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 | 3,852 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 3,781 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 2,991 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 2,648 |
| 5 | Washers | 2,297 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 2,252 |
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 | 33.7% | 17,132 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.9% | 15,717 |
| 3 | Brakes | 28.0% | 14,213 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 16.3% | 8,251 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.2% | 7,719 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 4,250 |
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 | 780 | 18.7% |
| 30-60k | 6,651 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 15,560 | 27.3% |
| 90-120k | 15,703 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 8,095 | 30.9% |
| 150k+ | 3,973 | 31.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 37,126 | 28.9% |
| Petrol | 13,652 | 26.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,931 | 26.5% |
| 2022 | 10,719 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 10,446 | 28.6% |
| 2024 | 9,799 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 8,883 | 29.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Ceed
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 19.6% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (13.2% 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 (12.5% 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 2011 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 50,778 2011 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Kia Ceed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.6% of tests, followed by suspension (13.2%).
Does the 2011 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.7% in the 0-30k band to 31.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 50,778 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.