Kia Cerato MOT pass rate & common failures
7,045 MOT tests on the Kia Cerato (2001–2019) give it a 68.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.3% fail rate), the Cerato comes out 4.7pp worse. Its most common failure areas are brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 18.9% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 624 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 25.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 36.2% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.0pp more often than petrol ones (33.7% vs 31.6%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 47.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.2% in 2021 to 30.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cerato model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 837 | 66.5% | 33.5% | Brakes |
| 2005 | 2,971 | 68.1% | 31.9% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 2,813 | 68.3% | 31.7% | Brakes |
| 2007 | 358 | 66.2% | 33.8% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.9% | 1,334 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.5% | 1,092 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 1,055 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 534 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.3% | 517 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.9% | 416 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 364 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.7% | 190 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 624 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 488 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 483 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 461 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 458 |
| 6 | Wipers | 351 |
| 7 | Headlamp aim | 340 |
| 8 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 318 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 47.5% | 3,344 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.4% | 2,354 |
| 3 | Tyres | 30.0% | 2,111 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 20.2% | 1,420 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.3% | 1,146 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 914 |
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 | 167 | 25.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,446 | 25.9% |
| 60-90k | 2,510 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,812 | 36.6% |
| 120-150k | 804 | 36.3% |
| 150k+ | 304 | 36.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,840 | 31.6% |
| Diesel | 1,205 | 33.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,272 | 32.2% |
| 2022 | 1,728 | 31.8% |
| 2023 | 1,336 | 32.2% |
| 2024 | 990 | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 719 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a Kia Cerato
- Brakes (18.9% 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.
- Suspension (15.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Kia Cerato?
68.0% of the 7,045 Kia Cerato MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 32.0% fail rate, across model years 2001–2019.
What does the Kia Cerato most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 18.9% of tests, then suspension (15.5%).
How much does mileage affect Cerato MOT results?
Fail rates run at 25.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 36.2% for 150k+, a 11.0-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel Cerato more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 31.6% of the time against 33.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,045 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.