2020 Kia Niro 3 Ev — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,206 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Kia Niro 3 Ev, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.4% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.0% | 73 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.6% | 32 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 19 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 13 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 2 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 37 |
| 2 | Wipers | 29 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 11 |
| 5 | Washers | 10 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 7 |
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 | 21.6% | 260 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.0% | 73 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 72 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 38 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 18 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 11 |
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 | 420 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 541 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 183 | 6.6% |
| 90-120k | 38 | 2.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 34 | 2.9% |
| 2023 | 356 | 7.9% |
| 2024 | 389 | 6.7% |
| 2025 | 412 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Niro 3 Ev
Before buying a 2020 Kia Niro 3 Ev, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.0% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
- Visibility (2.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.6% 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 2020 Kia Niro 3 Evs pass their MOT?
92.4% of the 1,206 2020 Kia Niro 3 Ev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Kia Niro 3 Ev?
Tyres, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by visibility (2.6%).
Does the 2020 Niro 3 Ev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 2.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,206 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.