2014 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Kia Ceed passed 79.0% of its 70,197 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.5 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 17.5%. Failures cluster in steering, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — steering (8.0%) and lighting & signalling (7.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are track rod end, service brake performance and tread depth — track rod end alone was recorded 6,143 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 10.9% in the 0-30k band and 28.1% in the 150k+ band, a 17.2-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.5pp more often than petrol ones (22.2% vs 18.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steering | 8.0% | 5,616 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 5,438 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 5,070 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.3% | 3,743 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.7% | 2,574 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 2,500 |
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 | 6,143 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 2,386 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 2,099 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 1,977 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,570 |
| 6 | Wipers | 1,563 |
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 | 26.1% | 18,324 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.7% | 16,641 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.9% | 8,343 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.4% | 6,590 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 4,615 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.0% | 4,220 |
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 | 2,990 | 10.9% |
| 30-60k | 21,042 | 16.1% |
| 60-90k | 26,482 | 22.1% |
| 90-120k | 13,719 | 26.1% |
| 120-150k | 4,308 | 27.6% |
| 150k+ | 1,653 | 28.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 46,514 | 22.2% |
| Petrol | 23,683 | 18.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,709 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 13,999 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 14,336 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 14,139 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 14,014 | 24.1% |
What to check before buying a 2014 Ceed
On a 2014 Ceed, steering is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Steering (8.0% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% 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 2014 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
79.0% of the 70,197 2014 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Kia Ceed?
Steering, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.8%).
Does the 2014 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 70,197 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.