2007 Kia Cerato — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 358 MOT tests, the 2007 Kia Cerato recorded a 66.2% pass rate. That is 7.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (19.3%) and brakes (18.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and service brake performance — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 32 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 43.2% once past 120-150k — 2.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 52.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.3% | 69 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.7% | 67 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 16.8% | 60 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 34 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.8% | 28 |
| 6 | Tyres | 7.0% | 25 |
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 | 32 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 27 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 26 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joints | 24 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 22 |
| 6 | Washers | 20 |
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 | 52.5% | 188 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.8% | 114 |
| 3 | Tyres | 29.9% | 107 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.8% | 71 |
| 5 | Steering | 12.3% | 44 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 40 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 39 | 20.5% |
| 60-90k | 146 | 33.6% |
| 90-120k | 114 | 34.2% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 43.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 215 | 34.4% |
| Petrol | 143 | 32.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 126 | 35.7% |
| 2022 | 89 | 31.5% |
| 2023 | 66 | 30.3% |
| 2024 | 47 | 36.2% |
| 2025 | 30 | 36.7% |
What to check before buying a 2007 Cerato
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.3% 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 (18.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (16.8% 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
How many 2007 Kia Ceratos pass their MOT?
66.2% of the 358 2007 Kia Cerato MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Kia Cerato?
Suspension, recorded in 19.3% of tests, followed by brakes (18.7%).
Does the 2007 Cerato get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 30-60k band to 43.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 358 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.