2023 Kia Ceed — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Kia Ceed passed 93.1% of its 376 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 5.8%. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.2%) and lighting & signalling (2.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are pins and bushes, wipers and headlamp aim — pins and bushes alone was recorded 7 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 12.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 12 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 10 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 9 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.6% | 6 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 3 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.3% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pins and bushes | 7 |
| 2 | Wipers | 6 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 2 |
| 5 | All direction indicators | 2 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2 |
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 | 12.0% | 45 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 23 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.2% | 12 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.7% | 10 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 6 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.3% | 5 |
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 | 219 | 5.0% |
| 30-60k | 128 | 8.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 300 | 6.0% |
| Diesel | 62 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 59 | 1.7% |
| 2025 | 302 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Ceed
On a 2023 Ceed, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (3.2% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (2.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2023 Kia Ceeds pass their MOT?
93.1% of the 376 2023 Kia Ceed MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Kia Ceed?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.7%).
Does the 2023 Ceed get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.0% in the 0-30k band to 8.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 376 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.