2012 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 79,278 MOT tests, the 2012 Kia Ceed recorded a 73.7% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 21.2% of the time, so this is 5.1pp 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 14.3% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, position lamp and headlamp — track rod end alone was recorded 5,414 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 16.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 29.9% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.0pp more often than petrol ones (27.0% vs 24.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 29.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 11,330 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 8,232 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.1% | 7,224 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.8% | 5,426 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.3% | 4,957 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 3,797 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Track rod end | 5,414 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 4,611 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 3,297 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 3,267 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 2,995 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 2,958 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 29.1% | 23,076 |
| 2 | Suspension | 26.5% | 21,023 |
| 3 | Brakes | 25.7% | 20,366 |
| 4 | Other defects | 12.5% | 9,925 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.4% | 9,061 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.2% | 4,930 |
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 | 1,554 | 16.0% |
| 30-60k | 12,238 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 26,966 | 25.8% |
| 90-120k | 23,115 | 28.6% |
| 120-150k | 10,718 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 4,676 | 29.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 62,351 | 27.0% |
| Petrol | 16,919 | 24.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,918 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 16,516 | 25.5% |
| 2023 | 16,236 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 15,816 | 27.7% |
| 2025 | 14,792 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Ceed
On a 2012 Ceed, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (14.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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 (9.1% 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 2012 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 79,278 2012 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Kia Ceed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.3% of tests, followed by suspension (10.4%).
Does the 2012 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 79,278 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.