2013 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Kia Ceed passed 76.0% of its 71,939 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (19.4% fail rate), the 2013 Ceed comes out 4.5pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, steering and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.2%) and steering (9.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, tread depth and position lamp — track rod end alone was recorded 7,082 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.0% in the 0-30k band and 29.6% in the 150k+ band, a 16.6-point spread — more than double.
The petrol cars hold up better: 20.7% fail against 24.9% for diesel, a 4.2-point gap across 71,939 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 6,593 |
| 2 | Steering | 9.0% | 6,512 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 5,458 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.5% | 5,387 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.3% | 3,850 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.9% | 2,777 |
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 | 7,082 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 2,456 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 1,955 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,899 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 1,879 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 1,818 |
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 | 27.4% | 19,721 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.3% | 17,497 |
| 3 | Suspension | 17.1% | 12,305 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.9% | 7,141 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 6,150 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.7% | 4,814 |
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 | 1,840 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 13,901 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 25,999 | 23.7% |
| 90-120k | 19,043 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 7,924 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 3,226 | 29.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 55,206 | 24.9% |
| Petrol | 16,733 | 20.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,000 | 20.8% |
| 2022 | 14,770 | 23.2% |
| 2023 | 14,722 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 14,487 | 25.7% |
| 2025 | 13,960 | 25.7% |
What to check before buying a 2013 Ceed
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (9.0% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Brakes (7.6% 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 2013 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
76.0% of the 71,939 2013 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Kia Ceed?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.2% of tests, followed by steering (9.0%).
Does the 2013 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 29.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 71,939 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.